Turning 40 was a revelation. I had spent so many years in a marriage that no longer served me, trapped in a cycle of unmet expectations and silence. The person I had been before marriage seemed like a distant memory—someone I had lost along the way. I had spent so much energy trying to please my husband and meet his needs that I forgot to nurture myself. By the time I reached 40, I felt like I didn’t even recognize the woman I had become.

My decision to get divorced wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I realized that I deserved to be happy, and that happiness couldn’t come from someone else. It had to come from within. After the divorce, I went through a period of self-discovery, learning to embrace who I truly was—what I liked, what I wanted from life, and what I deserved in a relationship. I began taking yoga classes, getting out in nature, and reconnecting with friends I had neglected over the years.

With each passing month, I began to feel more confident and more at peace with myself. I realized that divorce wasn’t a failure—it was an opportunity for growth, an invitation to rediscover who I was meant to be. Now, as I continue my journey, I am more aligned with my true self, more excited about my future, and more grateful for the chance to live life on my own terms. The woman I am today is stronger, wiser, and more fulfilled than I ever was in my marriage.