Three months ago, I shared my newest project with you. A book in which I chronicle the lives of 15 women going through their first year of divorce. (You can read the original post HERE.)
When I first put the call out on the blog and social media, I was completely humbled by the response. Over 150 women contacted me and from that, I interviewed 50 women as possible candidates for the book. I spent 20 – 30 minutes talking to each of those 50 women via phone/skype and even Google hangouts (that’s a whole new form of video I’m learning!) I was then able to pick the final 15 that I would spend the next year interviewing and chronicling.
I am now in the midst of getting to know those 15 women and am completely and utterly blown away. This project means more to me than just a book, it’s truly investing in relationships with these women and being an ear to hear all their emotions. Their fears, their anxieties, their joy.
They tell me about their hardest days and they tell me about their laughter. They share about what they can’t even tell their closest girlfriends. Or what they wish they could say to their children.
And through it all, I’m honored. I’m honored to be their voice.
Every time I get off the phone with one of them, I sit for a few minutes and breath it all in. The gift I’ve been given to tell their stories. And I don’t take it for granted. These are women who have to find babysitters in order to talk to me, that are sneaking off to their cars during work hours just to have privacy. These are real women living real lives.
Just wait, people. It’s only the start of their journeys, and the start of my own as their storyteller, but I’m already in love with this project.
There’s a world behind divorce that people aren’t talking about. The world that can show happiness, relief, excitement. Things beyond sadness and loss. There are things people are scared to admit and things that show hope. I’m so excited to share all of that with you!
