One thing I realized when I divorced my H was that he was a contributing factor in why I wasn't able to have close relationships. Besides that, I didn't know how to develop meaningful relationships. I always put myself in the position of being there for others but not letting others be there for me. I am still that way, to a degree. I also allowed people to mistreat me. I am working on all of this.

Being single leaves me sometimes feeling incredibly lonely...but it also gives me the opportunity to cultivate the types of relationships that allow me to recharge my battery instead of drain it. Yes, it's work. And not knowing where to begin was the toughest part. Also, when I'm at my worst, I do still isolate...it's hard to combat old patterns.