In Texas, a woman ended her 14-year-marriage with a bang. With the help of her father and brother-in-law, Kimberly Santleben-Stiteler blew her wedding dress up using exploding targets, the reverberations of which could be felt for miles. The divorcee said the gown represented a lie, and this was her satisfying way of saying goodbye to her unhappiness. Divorce isn’t always sad – for many people this monumental change is liberating. Commemorating the end of a union is a memory they want to keep.
Here are some non-violent suggestions for commemorating your Michigan divorce:
1. Take a Trip
Were you married to a homebody who stunted your sense of adventure? Now is the time to venture out into the great unknown. Grab your passport and head to a foreign land. Or get behind the wheel and take that road trip you’ve always wanted to take. Wherever you go, choose a place that you know will satisfy all your yearnings for new destinations, new people, and new experiences.
2. Redecorate
Did you have ongoing arguments with your spouse about your décor? Paint colors? Or even the size of your home? Trade up or down, depending on your own wishes. Use the colors and fabrics you like. Choose the furniture that makes you happy. Redecorating your home is akin to redecorating your life.
3. Get a Tattoo
Some people celebrate the birth of a child with a tattoo of the baby’s name. Other people get tattoos to commemorate a special moment in their life. Choose your symbol of freedom or happiness or whatever positive way the end of your marriage makes you feel and make it permanent with some ink.
4. Do Something Your Ex Would Hate
Ever want to go sky diving? Have regular dinner parties? Start a book club? Live somewhere new? If you held yourself back from doing things you always wanted to do because your ex objected to extreme sports, having people over to your house, or changing the norm, now is the time to finally indulge yourself.
5. Take New Pictures
Always disliked the photo of your family that your ex loved? Time to swap out the pictures you don’t like for those that you do appreciate. And, this time, they can just be of you and your kids, or you and the dog, or even just you. Celebrate yourself and your freedom, all the heights you reach on your own – literal or metaphorical. Photos tell a story and you can now begin a new story, whether you’re displaying selfies, formal shots, or candids.
6. Throw a Party
Want to celebrate the launch of your new life? A divorce party is one way to show your friends and family that you’re truly thankful about the end of your marriage. Give yourself permission to be joyful and acknowledge what you feel is a positive change in your life. Make it a small get-together, a giant bash, or a night out with friends – whatever definition of party makes you happy.
Celebrate Your Michigan Divorce in Your Own Way
You don’t have to blow up your wedding dress to celebrate this turning point in your life. You can still be sad or torn about your decision to get a Michigan divorce. You have permission to feel however you’re feeling – and if you’re feeling joy, then go with it. Contact Michigan Divorce Help in Macomb, Michigan, for help and advice or to get answers to your questions about divorce.