Mary Kay Bartelt, 58, once believed she had found her soul mate. Her relationship began with a whirlwind romance marked by passion and shared interests. But a revelation of infidelity unraveled it all, leaving Bartelt alone at 57 without a job—she had quit at her ex's suggestion—and with the task of building an entirely new life.
Bartelt spoke to about her experience navigating divorce after 50, and what she hopes other women going through "gray divorce" might realize about their potential for a joy-filled life. "We began dating, and she quickly swept me off my feet," Bartelt remembered of her ex-wife. "It came on really fast and furious, but I was so smitten, and before I knew it, we were engaged and married within a year of meeting.
It really was a fabulous relationship for quite a long time." Bartelt and her ex traveled the world, enjoyed cultural outings, and spent joyful moments together, creating a life that seemed perfect. Bartelt said she even left her successful career in health care to embrace a life of freedom and travel, at the urging of her ex.
"She convinced me to quit my job so that I would be free to travel," Bartelt said. "I had a very good job when we met, but I trusted in her and our relationship." Beneath the surface, though, cracks were forming.
"Suddenly, my ex started appearing distant," Bartelt said. The changes were subtle at first—short temper, emotional distance—but quickly escalated. Bartelt's ex began spending more time away from home and .