And are happy

I realized this morning that I have lived alone and supported myself for almost 30 years… less if you discount the 3 years that Ramiro and I lived together… not that he offered much in the way of support.

I have lived as an independent woman all that time without the support of a man. I have made all of my own decisions. I have had no financial assistance from a man. I have had no partnership in which the burdens of life have been shared in all that time. I have done it all on my own.

This has not been what I expected of my life, but these are also the consequences and blessings of the choices and decisions that I have made along the way. I guess you could say I am proud that I have been able to do this.

Other than the 9 months that I was confronted with cancer, I haven’t really struggled. I divorced, and I was educated, and I had a career. I had heartache, but through it all, I supported myself. All of my decisions were made independently, without the consideration of a partner.

This is not extraordinary. Many women do it without praise. Women who are married or are lifetime partners are praised for long-term successful relationships… as well they should be. But so should women who had the strength to say “no” to relationships that could have made their lives easier, but would rather live alone than to suffer bad relationships.

I have been happy and am still happy.

I know that there are women who live independent lives and have partners. But that’s a different conversation.