Dating After Divorce

That is a title I never thought I would write about. One, because I never imagined being divorced and two, after my divorce I said "I AM NEVER DATING AGAIN!"

My last "date" with anyone before my , eventual ex-husband, was when I was 17! Oh how things have changed. I felt like a baby being thrown into the wilderness. I had no idea how to date. I had no idea how to be a girlfriend. I had been a wife for so long that I didn't even know what were right or wrong expectations. .

Here are a few things I have learned about dating after divorce:

1. It is so intimidating

2. Don't project your past insecurities on your future relationships.

3. If you don't like the way a date is going, you can leave

4. A new side of me exists and I am getting to know her too

5. Compromise! Dating when you're older is so different. We all come with baggage and trauma. How we deal with it will make all the difference.

6. Once you learned to be alone, it doesn't make losing someone so scary. You stay because you want to, not because you feel you have to.

7. Don't be scared. I am still working on this one. When your world falls apart, its easy to think that things will always eventually fall apart. IT WON'T.

8. When I started loving myself more and giving myself credit for the things I did, others started to see that in me.

9. The fear of failing again can be crippling. Amplify that by 1000 if you have kids

10. Knowing your heart can break again is terrifying but not terrifying enough to let love pass you by.

11. Only you can heal your broken heart but there are people out there that will help you take care of it.

Dating after divorce can be nerve-wracking but it can also be an unexpected adventure. I never thought I would have the 1st date butterflies again. I never thought I would feel my heart pound when experiencing a brand new first kiss. The most important thing I have learned is that endings can be sad, but new beginnings can be great.