"It may be the end of your world as you know it but it's not the end of the world."

Some hard-won lessons about life and love.

So while it would be easy to look back with ample remorse and bitterness, as I am further removed from signing my name on the divorce papers, I find myself grateful. For the opportunity to learn (albeit the hard way) and grow into someone who embraces her independence.

I was 28 years old when I filed for divorce and became single again for the first time since I was legally allowed to drink.

There's a real conflict in the messages that go out to young girls: on the one hand it's study hard, become someone important, invest in your career and be independent, and on the other hand you have the wedding industry and the society magazines saying: get married, that will be the most important day of your life, that will define you and validate you.