Divorce and Grief Recovery

08/27/2025

07/22/2025

07/11/2025

Wow! Worth the read

I Wasn’t Loved—I Was Useful
They liked me because I was easy.
Easy to talk to.
Easy to lean on.
Easy to forget.

I said yes when I wanted to say no.
Laughed when things weren’t funny.
Held space for people
who never once asked if I needed holding, too.

And now I’m angry.
Not just at them—
but at myself
for thinking that kindness would keep me safe.

1. I Became Who They Needed—Not Who I Was
In every room,
I scanned for cues.

What do they want?
Who do I need to be to stay loved?

I shape-shifted so well,
I forgot what my actual voice sounded like.

Because being authentic
felt like a risk I couldn’t afford.

2. I Confused Being Liked With Being Safe
If they like me, they won’t leave.
If I’m useful, I’ll matter.
If I’m low-maintenance, they’ll stay.

So I made myself easy to digest.
Softened every edge.
Apologized for my needs
before anyone had a chance to reject them.

But approval is a fragile currency.
And one day, I woke up bankrupt.

3. I Didn’t Burn Out—I Was Used Up
I wasn’t overreacting.
I was overextending.

And the weight of being “the good one”
crushed the parts of me
that longed to scream, cry, rage, and say NO.

I thought being nice would make people love me.
Instead, it made them forget I was human.

4. I’m Not Bitter—Just Finally Honest
I don’t want to be the safe choice anymore.
The reliable one.
The emotional sponge.

I want to be loved for my soul,
not my silence.

And if setting boundaries makes me hard to love—
then maybe they never loved me at all.

5. Final Word: I’m Done Performing
I’m not your emotional support human.
I’m not here to stay small so you feel big.
I’m not shrinking anymore
just to stay included.

If love requires disappearing,
I’d rather be alone.

Because I deserve to exist fully.
Loudly.
And unapologetically.

Credit: True Feeling

07/11/2025

With sadness, I let you know that Joanne Simpson passed away. Here hs the link to her daughter’s post on Facebook. She is loved and missed.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10227225050163809&id=1585342003

07/04/2025

If you could use a fresh start, Max's new book, Begin Again, is packed with encouragement.

06/02/2025

05/27/2025

At Ground Zero in NYC stands a very special pear tree- the Survivor Tree. It was found in the smoldering rubble, it's branches broken, trunk burned and it's roots snapped. With the care of those insistent on providing help, it was nursed back to health in a Bronx park and eventually replanted. For each of you struggling with personal issues, think about this tree- visit it if you can- and never forget all the love , that surrounds YOU- that will help you overcome the personal challenges your face. That invisible force called love, encircles you, embraces you- and will help to mend your branches. Breathe it in. Love is Light.

02/19/2025

Truth