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I received a big \u201cNO!\u201d slap from life many years ago when my husband informed me he wanted a divorce on grounds that I didn\u2019t produce a child for him. After many miscarriages and the loss of a baby in childbirth, I was shaken by his insensitivity, his drastic move to end our marriage of 13 years. I tried to convince him, and myself, that we could adopt a child if this was the problem. Of course it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
I cried and cried, feeling pitifully sad and abandoned. Worthless! I had given him my heart. What did I get in return? Rejection. I looked at my fearful face in the bathroom mirror, and with a little bit of surprise, asked myself, \u201cWhat are you afraid of?\u201d
\nThe unknown, being alone? A voice questioned.
\nI searched deep into my eyes and let the conversation flow.
\nYou\u2019re not alone. You have yourself.
\nLove yourself. Trust yourself.
\nThe best is yet to come.<\/p>\n
Hours later, as a calm settled over me and the city of Frankfurt (where I was living at the time), a piercing cry interrupted my serene thoughts. Through thin walls, from the apartment next door, came squeals of laughter and shrill erotic screams. My thoughts scattered while my heart skipped several uncomfortable beats. Damn. Two guys. Having sex. Loudly! Initially horrified, I reacted: cranked up Billy Joel\u2019s album, The Stranger, to the max. Singing along and dancing wildly, I no longer heard the ruckus from my horny neighbors.<\/p>\n
Long after the album had finished, I got ready for bed. Cleaning my teeth and face, I observed light and love in my eyes. I smiled. Getting to know you.<\/p>\n
That night I dreamed \u2026
\nMy husband broke into my apartment, rushed into my bedroom and pulled me from the bed. I tried to scream, but my voice didn\u2019t work. He reached for my heart and tried to tear it out of my chest. Frantic, I waved my hands motioning for him to stop. When I screamed \u201cNO!\u201d \u2026 his grip loosened and his image faded to black. He vanished.<\/p>\n
The next morning sunshine splashed across my eyes, My heart thumped a steady beat. I took a deep breath and smiled. I still have my heart. No one can take that away from me.<\/p>\n
Transformed while dreaming, I felt grateful to be alive and thankful for the gifts rejection brought me\u2014forcing me to explore my fears and encouraging me to love and trust myself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I received a big \u201cNO!\u201d slap from life many years ago when my husband informed me he wanted a divorce on grounds that I didn\u2019t produce a child for him. After many miscarriages and the loss of a baby in childbirth, I was shaken by his insensitivity, his drastic move to end our marriage of … <\/p>\n