Sharing is Healing

A few years ago I was lonelier than I've ever been.  Very unhappy.  My husband was beginning to pull away.  Or at least, that's when I started taking notice of him pulling away.  Back then, I felt like if I talked to others about how I was feeling, I was betraying him.  So I kept it all bottled up inside like a good Stepford Wife.  All the loneliness, sadness, disappointment, anger.

I cried a lot.

Strangely enough, now that things have gone from bad to worse between my husband and I, and we are separated, I feel better than ever.  I'm not crying.  I feel strong.  I feel well.

I credit this new strength to the power of sharing.

I started with my sisters, who are my best friends.  I began opening up to them about what I was going through.  Cautiously at first, always justifying and reminding them of all of John's good qualities.  But after time I grew bolder and stopped sugarcoating.  Called him a bastard once in a while. 

It felt good.

Soon enough I started opening up with friends.  An aunt.

Then along came a therapist.

Before you could say asshat, I had a large network of women counseling, advising, listening, commiserating, hugging.

I began to feel whole again.  I began to feel worthy, and valuable.

And NOT alone.

Never again alone.

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