Trends show that there has been a significant rise on senior divorces for the last 2 years and it is steadily growing overtime. Although this is not a cause for alarm, and indeed it is quite liberating for senior groups, I find myself a little saddened about this news for I know how difficult it is to cope with life after divorce as well as how important it is for a senior to have a partner to spend their golden days with.
10-15 years back, divorce at 60 is next to impossible. You don’t divorce at 60 back then, you just have to ride the waves and if the relationship turns sour, you just pray that your partner just drop dead. Divorce would be the farthest thing from your mind, now it is the next thing to come in mind as soon as you hit the aisle – some may even be thinking of divorce even before getting hitched!
Personally, I think there will be no good thing to ever come out of divorce. It is painful. Sometimes traumatic, not to mention can be really expensive. Personal advice is, if you are not sure of your partner then don’t get married at all. I’ve heard couples opting to live together and trying the relationship for years before finally getting married. This way, they will be able to “test” their compatibility when sharing a home and just call it quits if it won’t work. Unfortunately, this was not the practice during our time. Back then it was “have boyfriend, will marry” hence the number of senior couples hanging on just because our roots say so. This also makes it doubly difficult for seniors to cope with divorce. Below are some things you can do to survive divorce at 60:
* Strength is your bestfriend. In order to feel strong, you need to make your mind, body and soul stronger. Divorce is indeed draining but that doesn’t mean you have to let yourself be drained by what has been happening around you. Strengthen your body by exercising, your mind by meditation and soul by renewing faith.
* Seek closure. One of the most painful parts of a divorce is not knowing when to move on. And sometimes, even if you would want to leave everything behind you and start anew, divorce has this power to pull you back and make you suffer a little longer. At 60, you cannot afford dwelling on problems of the past as every single day is important. Do what you need to do now and move on.
* Reinvent yourself. Nothing screams new life than reinventing yourself. It will also make you feel in control and you have the freedom to do whatever you want.
