10 things I learnt by getting divorced in my twenties

WHEN Susie Moore was 19 she married a man she’d only known for eight months. They were divorced after a couple of years, but Susie has no regrets. Here’s why.

According to Susie, deciding to separate takes courage and honesty.

I GREW up in the UK and took what has now become a rite of passage, a gap year, when I was 18. I went to Sydney, Australia.

My life changed for good when I fell in love on this year away, got married at age 19 and never returned to England.

I stayed in Sydney for seven years and of those, spent almost three years married to a man who was just 23 when we met. He married me eight months after meeting in a bar at Sydney’s beautiful Darling Harbour.

We were so young. When people are young and fall in love they are hopeful and see what they want to see in the other person ... after a couple of years together we realised we were simply not compatible. I think a lot of people experience this. We chose to get divorced.

I am now 30.

Here are 10 things I’ve learnt from getting divorced in my tender twenties:

1. There are no mistakes — my marriage was a wonderful learning experience.

I still respect and mentally thank my ex-husband for the things our marriage let me learn about myself.

2. Follow your heart — I hate the term “failed marriage”.

My therapist told me at the time that failure is in fact the opposite: not honouring your truth. Deciding to separate takes courage.

He was right. Plus, despite the tumultuous nature of a young breakup, I experienced many happy and authentic moments.

According to Susie, deciding to separate takes courage and honesty.

3. It is OK to trust what feels right for you in the moment (even if others think you are crazy).

I am so happy I did. Today I know I have had wonderful life experiences, much more maturity as a result and a story to share.

4. The ending, even if it is not what you expect, can still be happy.

Starting anew, although it might not seem this way at the time, can be thrilling and adventurous. It’s how you perceive it.

5. Live in the moment — you never know what the future has in store for you.

I wish I allowed myself to be more relaxed and present in my younger years than fretting over how my life was changing when my marriage was not working.

6. Know when to call it a day — an ending is a chance to begin again.

Don’t delay that beginning when you know it is imminent.

7. You can start over any time.

I did at 22 with almost no money, no family close by and probably the blind faith that only a very young person has. With hindsight that faith was very helpful.

It’s never too late to start your life over.

8. Life is rewarding when you take risks.

I am proud and grateful to have lived in such a beautiful country for several years. Australia for me is a very spiritual place.

9. A marriage that does not last can teach us many important things about ourselves.

I was a spoiled brat. I was selfish and wanted things my way. I am astonished now that my ex-husband put up with me for as long as he did. These were my lessons to learn.

10. Life has a much bigger plan for us than we understand at the time.

Marrying my first husband meant I stayed in Sydney. A year after we separated I met my second husband, also Australian, who is my true soulmate.

We celebrated four happy years of marriage in January during a ski trip to Colorado. We live in New York City together and live a life I could only have imagined when I was a young girl.

I thank the universe for him every day and am appreciative that I entered our marriage more mature and aware of the person I am and the partner I want to be.

The life I live now would never have happened if not for that fateful meeting in 2002 in Darling Harbour.

What have your relationships ending taught you? Comment below to share your thoughts on Susie’s advice.

Follow Susie Moore on Twitter @SusieMoore

Susie is happier today than ever, because she chose to learn from her experience, not harbour resentment.