Great advice. After I left my ex, I moved to a city where I knew no one...but I’d wanted to live there my whole life. It was scary, but so freeing. Lived there three years, and found so much peace, strength, and growth.

I remember how terrified I was to go to a restaurant alone. It seems silly now, but at the time it was real. I remember going to a grocery store, and not knowing what to buy, I had always bought his favorite things. I didn't even know anymore what my favorite things were. It's a scary time...waking up.

I read a study that showed that if women don't remarry within three years they often never do.

Once women get a taste of freedom, and don't have to cater to a man anymore, they begin to wonder why they'd ever put up with it to begin with. It sure happened with me. Now I can't even imagine what I was thinking before..how did I do that?

I still sort of want someone for a dance and hiking partner, but the whole adjusting to a man thing seems ridiculously difficult now.

I know what you mean but I've already been through that quite a while ago. I like my own company and there are many benefits to living alone.

I know what you mean. Can't go out by myself. But very happy to be on my own. I am safe.

That is great advice and it reminds me of the film 'Shirley Valentine'. It's about becoming your own person again instead of being an accessory to someone else's life.

He is 2,500 miles away. I am back where I belong, with my friends and my tiny family (sister and niece). I am dealing with PTSD and getting counseling.

Very good advice. My experience has been a little different than yours. I've always been comfortable taking myself out to eat. I had never lived alone prior to my divorce. I went right from college roommates to moving in with him. I can't tell you how much I love, love, love living alone!

I will admit to talking to my dog more than I did when I was married though, lol.

My best moves after 33 years:

1. "You are not to blame for trusting someone you should have been able to trust", from my doctor.
2. Go to a hairdresser, a good one, and tell them they are free to create!

When we can honestly love ourselves, we have no fear of being alone. Only then are we able to truly love others.

After a while, what happens after a divorce actually looks amazingly entertaining. One unpredictable thing after the next and so on. Sort of like a novel I half read called “The Painted Bird,” by Haruki Murakami.

Good, kind, thoughtful advice

I had no problem being alone following my divorce. My first marriage was so aggressively bad in the last 15 years of that marriage that I preferred to be alone, rather in he company of my wife.

I do everything alone, be it dinner, going to the movies, or even attending a concert. I have grown even more comfortable with that after my divorce

Indeed! And don't cry in the soup.

Thank you for the wonderful advice!

I have NEVER been able to eat at a restaurant by myself. Just recently I applauded myself for going to Popeyes and getting myself my favorite meal and sitting there to eat it Baby steps. And yes, I'm divorced.

I'd been alone for along time in our marriage. He'd travel for weeks at a time and I'd be on my own with our kids. When he was home it was bad. If anything I'm sort of starved for quality conversation and friendship. I don't mind being on my own. It's a lot better than being with someone mean. Going to family type events is hard though. Seeing kids having fun with their dads. Mine have never had that. It just makes me sad.

I'm still married (for quite a long time) and I do that!

good advice

Sometime I think I'm too good at being alone. I like to go to Sweet Tomatoes, pig out on salads and read Skeptical Inquirer or Free Inquiry.