I’d love to say my story was smooth and without turmoil, but like most of us, life threw curveballs I never could have predicted. My journey began, like many others, standing in divorce court and realizing with a sinking heart that life isn’t fair—and that the family court system is ill-equipped to handle wayward exes or those who refuse to cooperate. The realization hit me like a wave: I was about to navigate the uncharted waters of divorce, alone.
Fast forward to 2012: I was a newly divorced single mom of three young children, with a decade-long gap in my resume from the corporate world. Beyond the uncertainty of how I would support my family, I was physically and emotionally drained from a years-long, stressful divorce process. I remember waking up each morning with the same anxious thought: What catastrophes will today bring? Often, they arrived in the form of rejection letters, broken appliances I couldn’t afford to replace, or unexpected bills that made me question whether I could keep going.
One part of the divorce journey no one warns you about is how difficult it is to be seen as employable while raising multiple children full time. Despite applying to over a hundred jobs, I realized there were many opportunities I couldn’t even pursue, because childcare costs alone would outweigh any wages I might earn. My stress levels were extreme, my anxiety skyrocketed, and I lost weight. Life became a blur of putting out fires and maintaining a semblance of normalcy for my children, my friends, and my family. Truthfully, I was hanging on by a thread, losing hope that I could ever secure a job or that things would improve.
Then, as if by fate—or perhaps divine intervention—my anxiety manifested in vivid, stress-filled dreams. In March 2013, I woke from one that would change my life. In the dream, I was desperately trying to sell my engagement ring to feed my children, running from jeweler to jeweler, only to be offered a dollar or two for it. In frustration, I declared, “Screw this—I’ll sell my ring and others online at a website called DreamsRecycled.” The dream was oddly specific. After dropping my children at school, I began researching online divorce resources and platforms—and to my surprise, there were none. The idea of a positive divorce felt paradoxical, yet I realized the only control I had was how I reacted to life’s challenges.
With no prior experience in tech or online business, I saw a spark of possibility. I typed “dreamsrecycled.com” into GoDaddy. It was available, and only $9.99. I purchased it immediately, feeling a mix of desperation and determination. I took the $3,000 I had and hired a web designer to build DreamsRecycled.com—the first online platform dedicated to selling items from divorce while promoting hope, positivity, and life after loss.
Within just 13 days, I went from an unemployable, broke single mom to the CEO and founder of an online business. I worked sixteen-hour days, learning everything I could about websites, branding, marketing, and the online world. I had no guarantees, but I had purpose. I told myself, “With purpose, anyone can move mountains.” My goal was simple: help one person a day, then three, and then more. That belief carried me to the website’s launch.
On July 7, 2013, DreamsRecycled went live. Within days, traffic started flowing, thanks to friends, family, and a surprisingly receptive audience. A few months later, I was interviewed by Fox News 35 locally. I didn’t realize these local stories could go national, but the segment was picked up, and soon my story went viral—featured on Huffington Post, CBS News, The New York Times, and dozens more. I was overwhelmed by the attention and thousands of emails from divorcees sharing their stories or asking for help. I was both shocked and deeply moved by the support pouring in from around the world.
Over the next five years, I devoted myself to growing and refining DreamsRecycled, guided by our users’ needs. Articles, community resources, and a free marketplace became the heart of the platform. My business and my children were my priority, and for a long time, I knew I wasn’t ready to pursue a serious relationship. I went on far too many dates, trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted, all while healing from the long-term divorce that had left emotional scars.
By 2015, I chose to stop dating altogether, focusing instead on helping others and raising my children. I learned to embrace being single, to recognize that I was whole on my own. This self-discovery, I believe, is key to building healthier relationships in the future.
As DreamsRecycled grew, so did my social media presence, especially on LinkedIn. One day, a polite, respectful message arrived from a man across the country, thanking me for my work. A few exchanged messages led to a phone call—and that single call changed both our lives. The connection was undeniable. Despite the distance, we built a relationship on trust, consistency, and care. Three years of long-distance dating followed, because he, too, had children and waited patiently until they were ready. One engagement and five years later, we are living our blended family dream. Though our wedding was postponed three times due to COVID-19, we know a piece of paper doesn’t define a relationship—actions, support, and effort do.
There are countless divorce stories, and I know firsthand how hopeless it can feel in the moment. But every divorcee has the opportunity to recycle their life—create a new career, rebuild, and choose healthier relationships. The notion that “you only get one bite of the apple at love or happiness” is far from true. Studies show 87% of divorcees eventually remarry, and the rest often find meaningful love as well. You are never too old, and it’s never too late, to build a life filled with fulfillment, growth, and love—both professionally and personally.
