“More than anything, I want readers to know that we are not confined to the stories we come from. We can move forward with dignity even from messy beginnings. Pain, though unwelcome, can shape unexpected beauty. Forgiveness can emerge from within, even when circumstances remain imperfect.” Serena Henderson, contributing author
The word divorce commonly conjures up a tension-filled, difficult, perhaps unavoidably acrimonious break between former partners, soulmates, lovers. Shame and failure are often associated with divorce, compounded by cultural and religious norms and scripts that emphasize divorce as a narrative of deficiency.
In this book, seven authors reconstruct their stories of divorce, inviting readers to imagine how they can reimagine their stories to create hopeful futures rather than doom-filled destinies. The stories demonstrate that divorce does not have to be disastrous; it can be a necessary life shift that comes with surprising blessings.
While affirming that the ending of a marriage comes with loss, this book looks at divorce as a life transition, where painful challenges offer opportunities to create meaning and beauty. Divorce can be a starting point for healing and rescripting beliefs absorbed in childhood. Likewise, it can reveal unhealthy familial patterns and addictions, as well as unconscious behaviours hidden by the culturally-sanctioned marital framework. Divorce can permit a new lease on life, with options to develop healthier habits and relationships going forward.
The book shows how writing can facilitate meaning making and be therapeutic. By rescripting our experiences, we can come home to ourselves in ways we didn’t know were possible. Readers may be inspired to change the stories they tell and believe in pursuit of their own healing. Suggestions for Writing Toward the Good Divorce are included as an Appendix.