I'm 63 and was married 41 years when my husband walked out last September. I was a complete wreck the first two months. My grown daughter moved in with me to make sure I didn't do anything impulsively self-injurious. I prayed a lot, relied on my 5 brothers and sisters, and began managing the divorce process. There was a day when the pain just lifted measurably, and I began to know that I would be a happy, functional human being again.

I'm a very vigorous, young 63, and I do not consider this "starting over" at all. It's just a change, very much like the death of someone you love. I'm looking forward to the final divorce and moving to a new thriving community.