It is hard to believe that it’s been two years since I launched Divorced Girl Smiling. An idea that began on the balcony of my parent’s Florida home, when my then 86 year-old dad said, “You should write about divorce,” my little divorce blog has blossomed into a brand that in my heart I feel is helping hundreds of thousands of men and women facing divorce.
I truly want to thank my readers for your support, which has been so powerful that it has turned Divorced Girl Smiling into a full time career, thanks to my sponsor, the law firm of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, and my two advertisers, Vestor Capital and The Center For Divorce Recovery. Doors have also opened for me at The Huffington Post and Chicago Tribune Media Group, as I now write for both publications.
Thinking of topics, sorting through and responding to readers’ emails, organizing guest posts, and writing articles on the site takes more hours than a full time job, but I have to say, I love every minute. Why? Because every single day I get emails, texts, and social media messages from men and women thanking me for giving them advice and support, inspiring them, and at times, making them laugh. For example, yesterday, a reader said to me, “I was almost in tears while reading some of your blog posts because I really felt like you knew where I was coming from. They really touched me.” It is comments like these that inspire me to work even harder to make the site the best it can be. They mean the world to me.
In celebration of my two year anniversary, I’d like to offer a list of my top 10 favorite posts during the past 24 months in order to give you a glimpse of what Divorced Girl Smiling has done so far. So, enjoy!
My Top 10 Favorite Divorced Girl Smiling Posts: (with a little sampler of each one)
- 49 Reasons to be Inspired by Dating, Getting Older, and Yes, your Divorce
- You are so much smarter than you were as a 20 something idiot.
- You’re not just divorced, you are also free to have the life you want. Whether you choose to grab it is your decision.
- Older men are better in bed than younger guys.
- How to Recover from Divorce: Stop Playing the Victim
Here’s the scariest part about playing the victim. People who don’t get out of that mindset end up miserable for the rest of their lives. Not playing the victim is the difference between a hard life and a life of bliss. I swear by that.
- Finding Happiness After Divorce isn’t a Possibility, It’s a PROBability
But let me clarify, that it isn’t luck when it comes to finding happiness after divorce. The men and women I meet with a story like this are those who make good, selfless choices. Those who focus on their children, their career, and who do positive things to heal from their divorce. Instead of drinking, they workout, instead of playing the victim, they focus on fixing the problems they can control, and instead of wallowing in in sorrow and self-pity, they get off their butts and accept their new role. They get strong. They go out and make things happen to grab the life they want.
- 18 Things Women Want to Say to Their Ex-Husbands
- Now that she’s dating, she realizes how much men really need and want sex.
- She doesn’t miss your mother.
- She’ll always resent the fact that you never changed one poopie diaper of any of the kids. Ever.
- She wants to say she’s sorry for so many things, and sometimes hates herself for not doing so.
- Let’s Talk About Sex After Divorce-Safe Sex, That Is
I can’t believe the number of older, divorced men and women who tell me they have unprotected sex with people they either just met or have yet to have the sex history talk with. They look at me with this innocent (I like to call it naïve and stupid) look and say, “Well…I’m sure it’s fine.”
- 12 Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me When I was First Getting Divorced
You’re going to meet other divorced women and they are going to become some of the best friends you ever make in life.
- Getting Divorced? Chances are it’s not lack of love, it’s lack of like
We all know that feeling of being in a relationship gone bad and desperately trying to get those feelings back. You pray, ‘I wish I could just snap my fingers and be in love again’ but you just can’t. The love is just too far gone.
- The Two Most Important Words When it Comes to Mr. Right
Will he be loyal to me? Will he stay with me forever, no matter what? If I get cancer, will he take care of me? If I go broke, will he support me? Will he be loyal to the relationship? If we fight, will he fight for the relationship to work? Is he really really here for me, both for the good times and the bad times? If I become extremely successful in my career and get promoted five times or start making hundreds of thousands of dollars, will he be happy for me or will he become jealous? If I get Alzheimer’s, will he take care of our children? Will he come visit me?
- A Trip to the ER Brings New Divorce Perspective
At that moment, despite all the ugliness we’d been through in the past 6 years, I wanted to hug my ex husband. I wanted to tell him he didn’t have to worry because everything was fine. I wanted to tell him that nothing on earth really matters except for our children, and that the divorce seemed so minimal and stupid and meaningless. I’ll go so far as to say for a minute, I even wanted him back. I wanted to erase the past 6 years and pretend it didn’t happen. I wanted my family back together.
- Talking to your Child About Divorce: Try Telling a Story
I’m not a psychiatrist or therapist, but what I can tell you as a mother is, kids want to hear that their parents were once in love, and that they loved each other enough to actually have babies together. They want and need to hear that there was a time their parents connected and acted completely differently than they do now. I think it makes them feel more loved.
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Regina
Your blog helped me through my first year of divorce. I am eternally grateful and still check the blog daily. Thank you!
Lou
I stumbled upon your blog at such a perfect time. I must’ve googled the wrong things when I was searching initially about separating. So many of your blogs hit home and I’m SO glad I’ve found your site!!! I initiated my separation. I lost the love. It turned platonic. It was me trying to fix it. It was me doing everything. I was tired and I shut my self down completely and built a huge concrete wall. I was just done. So as I start to explore all of your blogs I wanted to say thank you in advance. I’ve been separated only since September 2014 but so far I’m doing well…and I’m feeling happy and free and that’s such a great feeling!!