YOU are NOT ALONE with your story.
Living alone isn’t the end of the world-—it is the EXPANSION of a world we never would have entered if we still were ‘married’.
That's a great way of putting it, and in my case it was very true. I worked full-time days, and went to college at night. I was always interested in history, especially the Civil War, and with the inspiration that college gave me, during my vacations, I traveled to many of the Civil War battlefields, and spent several years doing research at various libraries, historical societies, as well as the National Archives and Library of Congress. I had a great time, and met many interesting people who were also into history. I also went overseas twice after I retired...3 week bus tour of British Isles, Paris, D-Day beaches, visited the small town in Holland where my Dad was born. I spent the last year doing my family tree, and discovered that a lot of the places I visited in England, Scotland, and Wales were connected to my mother's side of the family. I'm big on British history these days. None of this would have happened had I stayed married.
After my marriage ended, and I got back on my feet, and on with my life, my favorite saying was, and still is, that I'd rather live alone and be happy, than live with someone and be totally miserable. I'm glad you've found satisfaction in your life, because I sure have.