Today, I am setting aside my usual focus on travel to share something deeply personal, my marriage. While I have mentioned my two grown children in the past I haven’t spoken about my husband. This wasn’t an oversight but a deliberate choice. I needed time to find the right way to introduce him and more importantly to reflect on our journey together. This post is more about a marriage reflection and change.
For those who’ve been following my blog, you’ve likely come to know my outlook on life and the passions that guide me. I ‘ve spent nearly two decades with this man, these years have been rich with experience, growth and challenges.
The first decade was about building. We worked hard to create a shared life, blending our families, dreams, and ambitions. He has two grown sons. It was a time of energy and striving, a time of discovery. The second decade brought something different, the comfort and the rhythm of familiarity. Together, we carved out routines, vacations, traditions and a life that anticipated the years to come. Watching and supporting our grown children find their paths has been and remains, one of the greatest parts of my life.
Retirement
Now, as retirement has shifted from a distant vision to a present reality we’ve found ourselves at a crossroads. What once felt like minor differences in how we live and dream has grown into something undeniable. Over the years, our paths have slowly diverged, different interests, different paces and different visions for what this chapter of should hold.
For me, an active lifestyle has become essential, yoga, fitness classes, traveling, and visiting my children have all become ways to enrich my days. For him, contentment lies in the steadiness of home, our familiar town, and cherished trips to a single destination in Florida. Neither of these choices is wrong, they simply reflect the differences in who we are.
In the whirlwind of raising children, building careers, and managing the endless demands of life, these differences seemed small, even inconsequential. But now, in the quieter moments of shared mornings, like watching him sip his coffee I find myself wondering; When did our lives drift so far apart?
A New Normal
This is where we are, standing at the edge of something uncertain, grappling with what it means to create a “new normal” . It’s not easy but necessary. We both want to honor the love we’ve shared while being honest about the people we’ve become.
In my travels, I’ve met others who are navigating similar journeys. The rise of the “gray divorce” reflects a broader truth. As people live longer they often take a hard look at how they want to spend their remaining years. Love, while vital, isn’t always enough to keep two people together. Shared interests, mutual goals, and a vision for the future are equally important.
For us, the journey ahead is about balancing individual needs with respect for one another. Whether that means finding ways to reconnect or redefining our relationship entirely. I don’t yet know what the outcome of all of this will be. But I do know that life is too precious to live without intention.
Marriage Reflection and Change
I hope that sharing my personal story will bring light to something that isn’t always talked about. Retirement is a unique opportunity to step back and reflect on self, life, relationships and personal life. It’s a time to reevaluate priorities and discover passions . In essence, retirement becomes a transformative period for aligning life with what truly matters and reconnecting with your authentic self .
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya
Check out the start of my story here: The Time Has Come To Move