Patrick, I am sorry you feel empty. And I echo all the sentiments above, especially Polycarp’s.
Lean on your friends, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. So many are willing to give, and I include myself and my family.
And don’t forget, that door may have closed with a finality that rocks you, but another door is opening. And it is bright and warm beyond it.
I observed a phenomenon in high school that rather applies, albeit in a tangential way, to what you said, Dave.
There were two doors that led into a few dorms where I went to high school. They were fairly close together (five or six feet apart, I’d say). If you closed one, the force of the wind wake behind it often opened the other one slightly, if not more. And if you opened one, the other often moved as well, due to the same sort of idea. If you timed it right and with the proper amount of force (not too much, but not a little either), you could open both doors at once by opening only one.
And you could also open the other one by closing the first hard enough.
One door has been slammed in your face. Look behind you and you may find another is open. This one, unlike the doors at my high school, shows no signs of closing on you. But I am very confident it will keep the unwanted from you.
Solid metal doors, all.
I’m sorry, Euty.
You know you can count on all of us Dopers for support whenever you need it, Euty. Email’s in the profile, and you can always find me on LJ.
{{{Euty}}}
When my divorce was final I felt like I had failed at something. And coming at the end of some not too great years, the feeling of failing yet again was not something good.
My reaction was (if I understand correctly) much like yours. Here I am, alone in an apartment, and I’ve just gotten the paperwork that says I wasted not only nearly 15 years of my life, but 15 years of someone else’s. (That wasn’t really true, but that’s how it felt.)
But my kids were golden, being with them was a godsend. A new relationship (with an old friend) became a new reason to be happy.
Lean on those who love you for a bit. They’ll like, you’ll like it.
But I’m with you, it was not my best day. Hang in there Euty, you’re a good man.
Well shoot.
Euty, I’m sorry for my inappropriate response to your OP.
Persephone, please hug him for me when you see him next.