10 WAYS
TO SURVIVE YOUR DIVORCE

Maybe you can glean some comfort or understanding from my misery and mistakes. Here are the 10 most important things I've learned about enduring a divorce.
(BTW I'm much, much happier now. It takes time, but you'll adjust like I have. There is hope for happiness!)

1. If you have children, focus on them and their emotional healing first. They are hurting too. Give them all the love you can. Strengthen the parent/child relationship even as everything else around you falls apart. Later, they will be there for you as you struggle to rebuild your life.
2. Don't get worked up about material posessions. You will likely lose most or all of it due to legal costs, loss of income due to illness and depression and your ex's greediness. Enjoy the simple things.
3. Don't jump into another relationship right away. You may not realise it but you'll be a basketcase for at least a year (probably two), especially if the relationship being severed was 5 years or longer.
4. If you haven't already, join the gym or engage in a stress-relieving physical excersise. You'll feel better and look better to boot. Quit smoking and eat healthy. Stop drinking booze, at least for now.
5. Avoid depressing music (the Staind album has got to go!) and don't hesitate for a second to take anti-depressants if it will help you.
6. Pray and meditate often. Find peace. Learn how to access it when you need it. Jesus Christ -the Prince of Peace- lives and loves you. He doesn't want to see His children suffer anymore than you want to see your children suffer. Ask for help and you will receive. Refer back to rule #1.
7. DO NOT make any radical changes to your life. Don't quit your job, don't change your hair color, don't buy a new car. Give it at least a year. I made the mistake of buying new clothes shortly after my wife left me. I ended up with all these shirts with skulls on them! I guess I was pissed... and I wasted alot of money on clothes I won't wear now! I recommend just getting in great shape, as any other extreme changes to your image will only show weakness to your ex and attract attention you don't need.
8. Time to get really good at something. Develop a new hobby or skill. Learn a new language. I got into bodybuilding and it has helped me feel better about myself.
9. Learn to budget. Money will become more elusive now you are divorced and on the hook for child support, spousal support and God knows what else. Sit down and figure out how much is coming in and what is going out. Make child support a top priority because (in my personal experience anyway) when that crucial payment is missed, not only did I have to pay it off later, but I didn't get to see my kids. Who knows what story my ex gave the children as to why I wasn't seeing them when I was only a little careless with my spending for that month. This brings me to my final point...
10. Never talk negatively to your children about their father/mother. The temptation may be there, and it can be hard to resist in a moment of inflamed emotion, but hold your tongue. Talking bad about your ex-spouse only makes you look weak and bitter, and inflicts suffering on your children who are dealing with enough already. Take the high road.