Ok, so I called some program people and no one answered. One gal just called me back. We talked about how I need to pat myself on the back. How I need to plan my own celebration, etc. Feelings are not facts. I need to be proud of myself. I am. I have accomplished something big- through struggling with this disease, dealing with being separated, etc. I managed to stick with it and get it all done. I have a lot to celebrate and be happy about- no one can take away this degree. I have done a good job. Even if my AH were here, we would not be celebrating. We would be fighting and he would be mad because the attention/focus would not be on him. My accomplishments always made him grumpy and meaner and meaner. J.

I FEEL MUCH BETTER! It works if you work it.

thanks LA, I appreciate your response! J.

((((((((((Jean))))))),

CONGRATULATIONS!  Did you defend your masters or Phd?  Do we get to call you Dr.?  Which ever you did this a MAJOR accomplishment!   Now stand on your head, do cartwheels, run naked through the street if you want too.  Time to shout it from the rooftops! I know I would be.  Well done.  Now go out and do something extra nice for yourself.  Treat yourself to something you've always wanted and don't feel guilty about it.  When you look at it, it will remind you of what you've accomplished.  Much love and blessings to you.  I'm proud of you.

Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty

Hey Jean, I got my degree as my divorce was going through, as I was fighting for custody, and my world fell apart and stopped spinning. To this day I and others have no idea how I did it and there I was ALONE... FIVE SOLID YEARS of study, juggling with family, home, alcoholic, divorce, physical abuse, it got worse, drug addicted children, abandoned children who I ran around England to collect and nurture and try to sort out and that I did the night before my MAJOR.

I DID IT and CRIED, CRIED, and CRIED some more. MAJOR achievement against all the odds and no one to share it with...then I went to my local church and found the door open and I crept into the side chapel and I poured my heart out and suddenly someone was sitting by me and he said, "I know, that is enough. Now go and SMILE, SMILE, and SMILE...and if anyone approaches you and asks why you are smiling TELL THEM and watch their reaction.  I learned that it was not a time to be feeling sorry for myself it was a time to be celebrating the amazing accomplishment of it all, the God given chance I had taken and grasped and followed through with...

W E L L D O N E C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S W O N D E R F U L C H E E R S

Now go throw your self into that beautiful sea and come out, find a shady spot and read a novel and take a picnic and smell the hibiscus flowers (if they are perfumed I am not sure) and take a glass with you and drink melon and mango and pinapple cocktails and raise your glass and know that I will be there with you in spirit if not in body celebrating with you. And marvel at the wondrous place God has planted you in...I wish I could visit there....I am intrigued by your islands.

And I pray that you will sea a TURTLE on the beach this day when you go for your swim and your picnic celebration.


-- Edited by Heartbroken at 07:54, 2008-03-20

Congradulations!! I'm just beginning the graduate school journey after making the choice not to be married to my active AH. What you have done is huge, amazing and worthy of celebrating. You are not alone..this is the begininning of an incredible journey!~

Jean,

Congratulations! Man, do I wish we could throw you a celebration! You may be alone in body, but not is spirit. We are here, and so very happy for you!

When I finally completed my thesis and received my Masters Degree, I had plenty of people to share it with. But, I remember after is was all over, feeling sad and being shocked by my feelings. It was almost as if it was anti-climatic, for the task was acccomplished bit by bit - you know, fix this, add that, have that signed - it was agonizing, and finally it was done. I remember turning in my final copy and walking across campus and thinking, "now what?" Confetti never did fall from the sky....

Time for you to breathe. Go buy yourself a present. In the past three years, not only did you obtain your degree, but you found yourself as well. What an incredible accomplishment! I hope you feel empowered!

You now have another huge task ahead of you. I hope you can take the same determination and focus you put into your education, and continue to turn it inward as you go figure out where what part your marriage will take in your life. You are an incredibly bright and compassionate woman, and have given me so much hope for recovery and I thank you.

(((jean))))

let me a big CONGRATS!!!!!
Thank you for sharing  your joy with us...Way to go!!!!!!!  I agree  wish we could throw you a party. 
your friend in recovery,
rosie

wow!! I feel so much better today- thank you for all the great responses- u guys never let me down!!! I cried when I saw all this- thank you, I am so grateful for this site!!!! big hugs, J.