[BirdSoul]

I have a very hopeful story that is close to my heart.

My dear sister, who has helped me immensely with all her compassion and insights into my sitch, went into MLC about 10 years ago (about age 41). At that time she had been married for nearly 20 years and had three children. There were definitely major issues in her marriage that she and my BIL had never been able to resolve, but they always had a deep and genuine love for one another.

My sister, in many ways, was the classic accommodater who neglected/did not know how to meet her own emotional needs and finally caved to despair over her belief that my BIL would never change. She had an affair with an old high school flame (who was also married and also in MLC). My BIL did not stand. Instead, he had a retaliatory affair and my sister and BIL were both very, very angry at one another and ended up getting divorced. It was not an amicable divorce.

My sister's affair, as we all know from RCR's wisdom, was doomed; OM never left his wife. My BIL married his affair partner very soon after the divorce. But, he affaired down in a big way (although not strictly in MLC himself he acted like it in many ways), was never going to be happy with this OW, and never stopped loving my sister. So his relationship was also doomed.

Little by little my sister and BIL talked and talked, figured things out, and reconnected. They have now been divorced almost six years, but, he is in the process of divorcing his second wife and my sister and BIL are recommitting to one another. They are taking it very, very slowly.

My sister has changed immensely for the better by going through the MLC tunnel. She has really come into her own as a person and is so wise about herself and others. She told me that her chief learning was that she "does not pin her happiness on anyone else." This is what our MLC'ers need to learn, as they have pinned their happiness on us, and found it did not work. We can only control our own happiness. Interestingly, my BIL has changed, too. He is much less closed-off emotionally and much more open to my sister and their children and their needs. I think he takes better care of his own needs as well.

I think this story shows the power of a genuine loving bond, even without a strict stand by my BIL, which would have made things even better between my sister and BIL, possibly in a shorter period of time. I hope my sister's story gives you all hope, as it has given me.

Blessings to all.

[LisaLives]

Thanks birdhouse, not just for the story, but for the song reference.  How can one not be happy singing they might be giants.  I love that.  And that's a great story--I think that's my dream. 

[Mamma Bear]

Uh OH Maria Schriver said something about a Transition and separated from "Arnold" No talk of D  I praying for them to be a success story.

[Ibelieve]

I heard about Arnold and Maria also.. First thing that came out of my mouth was... "Midlife Crisis"  haha
It was a surprise.

[OldPilot]

Uh OH Maria Schriver said something about a Transition and separated from "Arnold" No talk of D  I praying for them to be a success story.

Plus she is in depression from the passing of her father Seargant Shriver

[Buggy31]

Shriver appears without a wedding ring in videos posted recently on YouTube and talks about stress in her life, the weight of expectations and the search for faith in a troubled world.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/27849853/detail.html#ixzz14mxTtIJM


Just read this article...sounds like MLC for sure..don't you think

[Mamma Bear]

 Sounds like Arnold is Standing Maybe he'll be on here soon.

[LearningIamOk]

If Arnold joins he can take the name the  MLCinator.  He won't stop, he'll never stop. That's all he does!

[Mamma Bear]

 LOL He'll need to focus on himself and not pursue her. Give her space.
 Remember he can't go around it or under it. It must be gone through..

[xyzcf]

I had dinner with my ex SIL tonight and she told me of a couple at her work..the wife divorced the husband and two years later they are remarrying.