Ten years ago, I filed for divorce -- the absolute best decision I ever made in my entire life. The only thing that would have made it an even better decision would be if I had filed about ten years earlier than I did! My bad.
Ten years, though. Wow. As they say, time really does fly when you're having fun. In recognition of those ten years, I thought I'd compile ten of my favorite accomplishments from these past ten years.
Number 10: I finally had a one-act team qualify for state, and it happened when my daughter was a part of the team and had a major role.
Number 9: I took up water color painting and found out that I have a bit of a knack for it. I really enjoy painting, especially landscapes that involve beachy or mountainous scenes as well as sunsets and sunrises.
Number 8: I acquired a complete collection of all the Pulitzer Prize winners of fiction and have now read most of them. I also added extensively to my home library of books and organized it.
Number 7: I completed thirty years of teaching high school Spanish and English as well as coaching a variety of non-sport activities over those years.
Number 6: I bought myself a motorcycle -- and a Harley this time -- after a twenty-some year hiatus from riding. It was my gift to myself when my divorce was finally final (after a year and a half -- ugh!). Riding the motorcycle has added so much to my life. I became an American Legion Rider and met Kim all because I had that bike. Additionally, I've met some good friends, and riding is a great stress reliever.
Number 5: I traveled to Holbox Island (for a second time and where I again swam with whale sharks, and that should probably count as its own accomplishment because it was amazing!) and other places in the Yucatan of Mexico, New York City, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Asheville, many other places in Tennessee, Tybee Island, Niagara Falls, Boston, Dallas, Branson, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Minnesota and the Mall of America, Kansas City, Jefferson City, Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, and many other places. I can't wait to revisit some of them as well as get to new places in the coming years.
Number 4: I got to see both of my children graduate from college and go after careers they love. While this isn't necessarily my accomplishment, I consider it at least partly so because I helped them so much along the way. Sam, my daughter, is currently completing a master's degree in paleontology, so she's not fully invested in her career yet, but she is working at a dig site affiliated with her college. Trevor is a coach and educator.
Number 3: For two years, Silvia, my dear friend -- and original foreign-exchange student -- lived with me. She and her daughter, Constanza, stayed here while Silvia pursued a belated business degree at the community college in Norfolk. Unfortunately, Silvia got very ill before she could thoroughly complete what she'd set out to do, but she did manage to finish her associate's degree in business, and the college mailed her diploma to her in Mexico. For the past year and a half, she's been on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant which she's now on the cusp of getting. I pray that all goes well for her, so she can continue chasing her dreams, one of which involves the two of us running a part-time writers' retreat in Mexico.
Number 2: I met Kim, the most generous man in the world. He's been great to me and to my family and friends. Since we both suffered through long, agonizing marriages, we understand the trauma those leave on a person's soul and we've been able to build each other up. We've had almost eight years together now, and I hope for many more.
Number 1: I began a full-time career as a writer. In doing that, within a short span of time, I've published two more novels, got my column placed in a second newspaper, made a number of in-person appearances at libraries and book festivals, started a word newsletter and a YouTube channel, and added Instagram and Facebook author pages. Leaving teaching to invest in my dream of being a writer is, by far, my greatest accomplishment, and I hope to be doing it even longer than I taught.
I know that I can safely say that most of these things would NOT have happened if I hadn't gotten a divorce. It freed my soul which, in turn, freed me to do and be the things I was meant to do and be.
I look forward to seeing what I'll accomplish with the next ten years.
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