I understand your heart attack analogy. I to would not have done the soul searching, made the changes, etc. had I not come to such dire straits. I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder during marriage counseling.
Like you, I have done much to improve the behavior that caused her to want the D. Like you it has not done much to change my sitch. Finally, like you, I get to keep the positive changes that I have made in my life. Sometimes that is all you get. Don't make the mistake of thinking that is nothing.
Me: 35 WAW: 28 Bomb: 1/13/08 S: 1/14/08 D filed: 2/24/08 D final on 7/07/08
Do your damndest in an ostentatious manner all the time. -George S. Patton
My Sitch http://www.divorcebusting.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1405138&page=0&fpart=1