It Took 'Running Away From Home' To Really Find Myself After Divorce

Sometimes, you just need to escape.
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If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com.

Just after her divorce was finalized in January 2011, writer Michela Montgomery packed up her two kids and set out on a vacation she had been putting on the back burner for far too long.

Below, Montegomery -- author of the action and adventure trilogy The Cave -- shares how invigorating it was to get away after her 14-year marriage ended.

The Splurge
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"I 'ran away from home' a few months after my divorce was final. I took my kids to Belize, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. It was a trip I’d begged to go on when we were married but we never had. Going on that trip was like declaring my independence."
The Quote
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"When I heard this quote in the movie, I started crying because it was so applicable to my situation. It defined me and where I was at."
The Book
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"The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. At a time when I was questioning everything, this book taught me how to focus on being present in my life. A friend of mine recommended it and I read it whenever I need comfort."
The Photograph
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"I decorated my bedroom with black and white pictures taken in France. I found a picture of a beach at Normandy. The trees were bare. The water was nearly still. It was silent and painful and beautiful. It still hangs on my wall today."
The Indulgence
"There's this bakery in Boston -- Mike’s Pastries. It’s full of the best, most amazing pastries you’ll find anywhere. Whenever I go home to Boston, I get a chocolate cannoli and walk around the North End. It’s the ultimate comfort food."
The Hobby
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"Working out! After my divorce, I started working out five or six days a week. It was a great outlet for all of the pent up frustration and anger. Then I started lifting weights, taking yoga and doing pilates. I started feeling better, then looking better…and my self-esteem improved as the result."

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