I can't move forward and it's driving me nuts

[AntoniaB]

Cat, Kara, Beatrice, Crushed, and 25 years, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hadn't posted for so long because of "gal-ing" and I let it build up, and having posted yesterday and read all your amazing insights, I now feel like today is definitely better and I feel like you all "get" me and you all really helped. I guess I just needed some people to say it's ok if you do NOT get into a relationship, it means you're still grieving, but grieving doesn't have to mean stuck either, I guess. Grieving while I'm doing other things--working, being a good friend and daughter and sister, doing my hobbies, researching and writing my book, these are all part of my progress. I really wasn't "doing" any of those things with meaning when I was married. My married life was the part I lived (for better or worse) but the rest of it was the fog. Now the stuff in the fog IS my life and the relationship with a partner has exited. But there are many great women who have lived without a partner, and I guess I need to embrace those women and that life right now and stop beating myself up over it.

Thank you so much again...this has been truly helpful and I feel a big virtual hug from all of you that is sustaining me right now :-)