I’ve never been big on regret. I don’t like to look back at things and wonder if things would have turned out differently had I made a different decision, simply because looking back doesn’t change anything, it only makes you feel worse. So why bother? I was reading an article today about divorce, as I often do, but this one I found rather interesting. We all know that divorce is on the rise. Depending on which research you are looking at as many as 50% of all marriages will end in divorce, but did you know that between 50-80% regret the decision? This seemed rather high to me.
While I wasn’t the one that wanted the divorce, I have never regretted my decision to go through with it. It was the best thing that could have happened for me, but I certainly didn’t believe it at the time. To say it was hard would be the understatement of the century. I had to start all over. I didn’t know who I was anymore and I was a little afraid to find out. I had to redefine who I was as a person. My entire life was turned upside down, and it took everything I had just to try and pick up the pieces. Would life have been easier if we had stayed together? In some ways, yes, it would have. Logan and I wouldn’t have had to move back in with my parents, we wouldn’t have to worry about who was going to get him for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and I wouldn’t be struggling to do everything on my own. But, if we hadn’t gotten divorced when we did, I never would have realized how miserable I was. I never would have been able to find myself again. Being divorced actually motivated me to go after my dreams. I went back to school and I’ve accomplished things that I never thought possible.
Divorce is never something to take lightly. I am very pro-marriage. But, I also believe that there comes a point when it is necessary. This is individual for each couple. If you think you may regret the decision someday, stay a little longer. There are lots of resources out there for couples who are struggling. You don’t want to make a decision you can’t live with down the road.