Founder
The Family Imprint Institute
Sarah’s hand trembled as she set down the pen. The last signature was still drying on the divorce papers, a final punctuation mark on fifteen years of marriage.
It seemed that all there was left to do in this moment was to gather up her things, nod a brief thanks to her lawyer, try to hold a soft smile that signalled good-bye in Tom’s direction before pushing through the heavy courthouse doors. Her exhale once she passed through those doors came out ragged and deep, as if she’d been holding that same breath since the moment she’d signed the papers.
As Sarah stepped outside, she couldn’t help but notice that everything looked exactly the same. The same cracked sidewalk, same guy selling coffee from his cart, same traffic noise. Everything around her seemed the same, yet inside she felt like a completely different person.
Sarah sat in the car for a long time, gripping the steering wheel, not sure where to go. Home? Did it even feel like that anymore?
That evening, Sarah stood in her half-empty apartment, looking over at the pile of boxes, marked Tom or Sarah. Sarah’s thoughts drifted to how seamlessly their lives had once flowed together, now reduced to his pile and hers.
In the corner, her old easel caught her eye, dusty but still standing. She’d tucked away her creative dreams so gradually she’d barely noticed their disappearance, like photos fading in the sun.
Weeks passed, and slowly, Sarah began to create her new normal. She moved the bed to face the window, something Tom had always resisted. She replaced their beige walls with rich teals and golds. On Thursdays, she started taking ceramics classes at the local art centre, her hands learning to create something beautiful from formless clay.
Sarah intentionally set aside moments for quiet reflection. She gifted herself a beautiful leather bound journal and each day she’d sit with another question. Questions like:
- What do I actually want, when I don’t have to compromise?
- Who am I on the other side of this relationship?
- What dreams did I put on the back burner?
- What have I learned about myself?
- What do I really need in my loving connections?
- What am I choosing for my life now?
These questions aren’t easy—but they are the ones that open the door to your new life.
The real work is learning to sit with both the pain of loss and the possibilities in new beginnings—because they both have something to teach you.
Divorce has a way of throwing you into the deep end – exploring parts of yourself that perhaps you pushed to the side.
Three months after signing the papers, Sarah found herself in her newly arranged living room, surrounded by half-finished paintings. Her hands were stained with vibrant acrylics, and her cup of coffee sat forgotten on the windowsill.
As she stepped back to study her work, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror – hair messily tied back, paint-splattered shirt, and something new in her eyes. Not happiness, exactly, but something closer to peace.
She realised then that divorce hadn’t just ended something; it had cracked her life wide open. Through these cracks, new light was pouring in, illuminating possibilities she’d forgotten existed.
Divorce isn’t just an ending—it’s the start of a whole new chapter and you’re both the author and the main character.
Read more articles by Johanna Lynn.
About Johanna Lynn
Johanna Lynn is the founder of The Family Imprint Institute with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in supporting individuals navigating divorce, helping them uncover the root causes behind their separation. Johanna uses innovative mind-body techniques to illuminate how family dynamics influence relationships, providing clients with deep insights, clarity and healing.