"Focus on what you are moving toward rather than what you are leaving behind." Alan Cohen

When I was first going through my midlife divorce and especially when the last papers were signed, and we met before the judge for the divorce to be complete, I was unbelievably sad about everything I was leaving behind. I realized that my whole life was going to be different. At that point I imagined that what was ahead would forever be a life of sorrow, regret, loneliness, emptiness, and all of those other negative feelings. I mourned deeply what I was leaving behind. That mourning process is necessary and hard, and it takes longer than you think it should. But after too long, when I finally said, "Okay, I'm done with all of this ridiculous sobbing," I started peeking into what my future might hold. I realized that I could look to a future where the people in it were honest and true and who wanted good things for me in the same way I wanted good things for them. I saw in my future people who love me for who I am, who aren't always making me feel like I'm somehow not quite enough of a woman. I also saw the chance to explore some new areas of interest and to see what God has planned for my life. Remember this: God promises a life beyond our wildest dreams ... good life! Fun life! Full life! Life that shines! So that's what I'm going to focus on ... that's what I'm moving toward. That's what I'm energetically, enthusiastically pursuing ... and I'm truly excited about what lies ahead!

 "... I am still not all I should be but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."    Philippians 4:13