Six months ago, I felt like my world was crumbling. Five months ago, he moved out. Four months ago, we filed for divorce. And now? I’m over it. It’s strange how time works—when you’re in the thick of heartbreak, it feels like the pain will last forever. But once you’re on the other side, you realize just how quickly it all passed.  

The Slowest Pain, the Fastest Healing  

During those early weeks, every day stretched on endlessly. The weight of loss, grief, and uncertainty felt unbearable. I couldn’t imagine feeling normal again, let alone happy. There were nights when I lay awake, wondering if I’d ever truly move on. Mornings when I woke up feeling like my life had been completely derailed.  

But here’s the thing about pain: it feels eternal when you’re in it, but in reality, it’s temporary. The emotions don’t just disappear overnight, but they fade, little by little. And before you realize it, you’re looking back and thinking, Wow, that actually didn’t take as long as I thought it would.  

Why We Think It Will Take Forever  

When we’re grieving, we can’t see the future. All we see is the emptiness in front of us, the routines shattered, the life we thought we had slipping away. Our brains trick us into believing that this pain is permanent, that we’ll always feel this way. But emotions are like waves—they rise, crash, and then recede.  

The reason healing feels slow is because we measure it in moments, not in progress. Every setback, every reminder of what was, feels like a failure. But in reality, every day that passes, even the painful ones, is a step forward.  

The Turning Point  

I don’t know exactly when I turned the corner, but one day I woke up and the weight wasn’t as heavy. The pain wasn’t as sharp. Instead of feeling like I was drowning, I felt like I was standing on solid ground again. And soon after that, I started feeling *excited* for my future.  

I look at my life now and see possibilities instead of losses. I see freedom, adventure, and the chance to create a life that is fully, truly mine.  

If You’re in the Pain Right Now, Here’s What I Want You to Know

1. You won’t feel this way forever. It will get better, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.  

2. Healing happens faster than you think. One day, this will be a chapter in your past, not your present.  

3. The best way to move forward is to create a future you’re excited about. Find something—anything—to look forward to. A trip, a new hobby, a new goal.  

4. You are stronger than you think. The fact that you’re feeling this deeply means you are capable of deep love, deep growth, and deep transformation.  

Looking Back, Looking Forward 

If I could go back and tell my past self one thing, it would be this: Hold on. You’re closer to the other side than you think.  

Divorce isn’t just the end of something—it’s the beginning of something else. And for me, that something else is turning out to be way better than I ever imagined.  

Have you ever gone through something painful that you thought would last forever, only to realize later that you got through it faster than you expected? Let’s talk about it in the comments.