The Claudia Brown

When my husband left, it felt like I had lost my entire world. He had been my best friend and partner for 16 years. I feared I would never find connection – or love – again.

I had thought we were “soul mates,” destined to be together forever.

The one.

My one true love.

Isn’t that what so many of us dream of as we grow up?

It is a romantic concept.

But with so many marriages ending in divorce, it is a dangerous one, adding extra layers of heartbreak, loss, and sadness to an experience already fraught with emotion.

It is also a lie.

There is always someone else.

With each new experience I embraced – from a ladies night at the local bar to Burning Man – a new connection was made. Some have been short-lived, while others long-lasting: friends, family, lovers, and everything in between!

As a naturally shy and introverted person, it’s been a challenge to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the unknown.

But I learned fast that on this new path forward, it would be the only way.

Eight years ago, I grieved the loss of my marriage — and I’ve experienced more heartbreak since then.

But for every person I’ve lost on this journey, someone new has appeared on my path.

I may have lost my “soul mate” but I have gained a soul family.