Sandi, i have always kept my hopes up but they are probably at their lowest point the last few weeks. Ive also read statistics about how many couples survive seperations and its not good, even checking the board here its very rare to see a success story. Its all very discouraging, depends on how you look at it though. The 5% or whatever that make it probably didnt think they would either though so you never know if your sitch could be the one where a miracle happens. I also think hope is a good thing, hoping for reconciliation kept me going and as time goes you can start hoping for other good things to happen.
Don't get too caught up in the odds. If you feel like standing, then stand. I didn't have the patience. It was more like I didn't have the want to after awhile. I crunched numbers at the beginning of my sitch--because I'm a stats person.
What I've read is that over 50% of divorcees regret it (but I haven't seen it broken down my the leaver and the leavee) and that 10% of people remarry a former spouse. My best guess was that ~40% of leavers regret their decision. Maybe 1/2 those reach out to the former spouse and 1/2 of those reconcile (for the other half the leavee has moved on).
