A Fresh Start
Spring-Cleaning Your Life After a Divorce
A divorce may not be the happiest time of your life, but it is, in many ways, a clean start. No longer tied to an unhappy marriage, you can make new choices about who you want to be and how you want to live. If divorce can feel like a long, cold winter, the time after the dust settles can feel as fresh as the warmth of spring. And your spring-cleaning doesn’t have to end with your closet — it can encompass your whole life. Here are three areas that may need a revamp. Home Once all of your assets are divided, you’ll likely have a lot of things you don’t want or need. Even worse, these items can remind you of your ex. If a possession makes you feel bad, it’s not healthy to keep it around. You can sell some items for extra cash and donate others to someone in need. Check with your kids to ensure no items are sentimental, then start getting rid of the things cluttering your space and emotions. Mind Even if you’re at peace with the end of your relationship, residual emotions can stick around. Many people use therapy after a divorce to help them sort out their feelings and determine what they want going forward. If counseling isn’t for you, you can still
unclutter your mind and take care of yourself by acknowledging and working through your feelings. Examine any unhealthy habits or coping mechanisms you may have developed and ask yourself if they’ll serve you well in the future. Finances After a divorce, most people need to face the fact that they no longer have as much money as they used to. Without a second income, you will need to downsize your lifestyle. Start by making a budget and determining what you can and can’t afford. Open new accounts in your name, check your credit score, and work to improve your credit, if necessary. And if you have any individual accounts opened before the divorce, change your passwords — just in case.
Now is the perfect time to ask yourself how you want your future to unfold. Whatever you want your next chapter to be, make sure you’re starting with a clean canvas.
Have a LAUGH
Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
Is the chill of winter lingering? A hot bowl of this Asian-inspired soup will warm you right up! Our recipe makes 4–5 servings.
Ingredients
• • • •
3 cups chicken broth 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• • •
1 garlic clove, chopped
10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil
Directions
1. 2.
In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic.
3. Add bok choy leaves and rotisserie chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the bok choy is dark green and tender. 4. Enjoy with slices of your favorite whole-wheat bread!
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