I have said a lot of prayers, shed a lot of tears, and then learned how to laugh a lot of belly laughs in 2020. With the pandemic, social issues, and then what’s going on in my own home with divorce number two, this year has been tough, guys. But, in spite of all the difficult moments and the uncertainty of the times, and the fact that I just want to crawl back into the comfort of my mom’s lap and have her tell me that it will all be okay, this year has also been really dang beautiful.
I realize that I don’t owe any explanations about my divorces, or about my current relationships, or about anything to anyone. But Chris and I made a decision twelve years ago to live in the public eye, and in doing so, I’ve opened up an invitation for you to sit at my table. I get that you might have questions, and I get that there’s a natural curiosity for what’s going on and how we’re choosing to navigate all this newness, so I don’t have a problem sharing these intimate parts of my life with all of you. The only thing I ask for is respect. And kindness.
The MOST asked questions about this stage in my life are:
- “Did you leave Chris for Derek?”
- “Are you still in love with your ex?”
- “How could you leave two husbands?”
I’ve tried answering subtly, and I’ve tried ignoring these questions, but they continue to flood my inbox and my DMs every single day since Chris and I announced our separation. After engaging (positively) with a few comments, it finally dawned on me that I can understand why people think some of the things they’re asking. They’re seeing a combination of the three of us hanging out, and laughing, and participating in family events together with the kids. Derek’s been such a huge part of our lives for years, and since he now works with Transform, he’s with both me and Chris a lot. So, while I know it’s nobody’s business but ours, I can see the curiosity, and I understand why I’m fielding all of these questions.
What you’re seeing now is that I’m happy. I didn’t feel this way on day one. It was hard, and it’s been a healing process. To set the record straight, while Chris and I announced our split/divorce at the end of May 2020, the divorce was actually decided back in August of 2019. This means I’m 15 months outside the hardest news I’ve ever had to accept. Ever. Divorce was never something I chose, even if my happiness, optimism, and constant laughter these days may have you thinking otherwise. And while I fought it as hard as I could humanly fight, and I didn’t fully understand the reasons WHY myself, I am WELL aware, now, 15 months into healing, that Chris made the most courageous decision of the two of us. He really did, guys.
We were both stuck. In a really bad way. He may be more so than I, and it was painful for us, our kids, and anyone near us, including our business partners and close friends. Deep down, I KNEW us separating would set both of us free, but I was far too prideful and terrified, to be brutally honest, of being the woman who couldn’t keep two marriages together, and I completely froze at the thought of the comments that would inevitably (and have since) come. I didn’t want any of it.
My hardheadedness, and both of our unhealthy co-dependence, was keeping together a thing that was slowly killing us both and taking our kids as victims as well. And that was the final breaking point.
Chris did what I didn’t have the strength to do. And for the longest time, I was so mad at him for it. He ripped the band-aid off, and we both bled for months. Not a day passed through the end of 2019 where I didn’t cry myself a river MULTIPLE times a day, including random, uncontrollable breakdowns in the lobbies of NYC hotels. (I will forever be thankful to you, Alexa, for being there during some of my darkest moments). Our friends’ shoulders are all most certainly pruned up and raisiny as a result of the tears from both me and Chris.
Divorce is hard. Yet through it, we BOTH found one of the greatest friends and allies on planet Earth. And that is in Derek. He’s always been a part of our blended family, so this is nothing new.
There isn’t a soul in the universe who can see and appreciate all four of my kids (with both dads) 1000% for who they are the way he does. He is one of the only ones who laughs as hard as I do at their quirks and who hurts as much as I do over their heartbreaks.
Derek has been a Godsend for both Chris and myself. It has been a major blessing to have his no-strings-attached love and support through this process and even his helping hand in mediating the separation of our assets (for real…no attorneys were used by me and Chris). And while he shows up in my posts and stories more often, he and Chris have JUST AS MUCH, if not MORE one-on-one time as bros, co-fathers of the kids, and work associates. I guess guys just don’t record as much as I do. ?
So, here’s everything in a nutshell:
- Derek and I are NOT getting back together.
- I DID NOT leave Chris for Derek. And I am not IN love with him.
- I love both him AND Chris very much for being the fathers of my kiddos, my friends, and my #1 supporters AND for choosing LOVE over HATE—in spite of our faults and quirks—during a time most cannot.
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I don’t have all the answers. I only know and am discovering what works for ME and my family. But here is what I CAN tell you: YOU are the only person who is responsible for your happiness. No matter your circumstances and no matter how much tragedy you have experienced, YOU are the only one who can climb out of any dark hole you may find yourself in. And you deserve happiness. Never forget that.
Divorce stinks. It really does. And there are days that are still hard to swallow. But at the end of the day, I know that no matter what, Chris, Derek, and I will always put our differences aside to make sure our kids feel safe, secure, and SO completely loved. Co-parenting, with THREE parents in the mix, is a juggling act. But it’s one that requires a fair amount of humility, dropping our egos at the door, and celebrating each other—often—in front of the kids.
One of my favorite quotes comes from John Wayne, and it says, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Well, guys, I’m in the saddle. I’m choosing to be a courageous person, and I refuse to be anything other than courageous for me and my kids. It’s through tragedy and the scary unknowns that we can allow a little bit of light to shine in through the darkness, and I believe my life is as happy as I choose to make it. Thank you for supporting me during this time of a lot of unknowns, and it’s my hope that through these hard talks, we can all do our part to spread a lot of positivity, empathy, and love.
xo,
P.S. if you’re looking to start your TRANSFORMATION journey, check out my 100% FREE 5 Days to Balance Bootcamp >>
Related reading:
Setting Realistic Expectations Can Help You Be Happy Now | Heidi + Chris Powell
12 Lessons Failure Taught Me
How to Find Strength in Our Struggles
How to Keep Your Momentum Even When Your Life Is Turned Upside Down | Chris Powell
Life Lessons Learned | Developing Integrity, Learning to Love Yourself, and Setting Boundaries
41 Responses
Sometimes the cover does tell the story before the book is even open and unfortunately many people learn life lessons the hard way because they believed in the story that’s a tell, tell written in the book. I was a big fan of “Extreme Weight Loss” and the help Chris Powell brought to so many peoples lives was amazing. Chris Powell obviously cares about people, fit and health and has dedicated his life to fitness and well being. What I didn’t like about “Extreme Weight Loss” was Heidi Powell. Every time the show aired Heidi Powell would be on the show more and more often as if she was pushing her way onto a stage where she had no business being. Chris Powell was the face and the expert of “Extreme Weight Loss” and Heidi Powell it seemed was there solely because she was Chris Powell’s wife. I never looked at or viewed Heidi Powell as any kind or type of fitness expert whatsoever. Over time watching “Extreme Weight Loss” I am became less interested in the show all because of Heidi Powell. I only saw Heidi Powell riding on the coat tale of Chris Powell trying to claim her fame. Just because your married to a fitness expert that doesn’t make you one. After listening to Heidi Powell’s comments on her divorce from Chris Powell I was just shaking my head. If their married was so good and there was small things as she sated on social media like thewy didn’t have date nights and so on. And, So that’s called life, that’s called you have kids, you have a busy career that doesn’t mean the happiness is gone, the love is gone, the good love making is gone. My husband said something to me a year ago. Do people even remember why they fell in love in the first place or is it just a fix of. Oh, life, are relationship isn’t perfect so there’s a problem so guess we should divorce. Ill pass on the cover and the book. Not worth the time or money on what’s truly important to hear. People give up and walk away so easy. Even when you think you tried, no you didn’t.
Thank you for sharing this. I went through a divorce too I didn’t think would ever happen (high school sweethearts.) Explaining is hard, it’s a painful thing and people don’t realize how vulnerable it is to be on the receiving end of questions or judgements. Thank you for sharing your perspective it helps me a lot!
Oh my goodness, Megan ❤️ I’m so dang sorry that you had to go through that. I COMPLETELY understand what you mean!! I’m so glad it resonated ❤️❤️
Wow! My husband just “ripped the band-aid off” a few days ago. I am devastated and have been pleading with him to re-consider (feeling my self esteem and dignity evaporate!). Whilst reading your post it dawned on me that it really is for the best and he is being the courageous one in doing this. I realise now that I am just hanging in there for our daughter and our home, but it will just bring her down with us to continue. I couldn’t have read your post at a more appropriate time. It completely made sense to me. Thank you for being so open. You just changed my whole thought process. All the best – Jo from Australia.
Oh my goodness, Jo I am so sorry that you are having to go through that ❤️ I know it may not feel like it now but I promise there is SO much beauty and happiness and love on the other side! And I’m so glad this helped to shift your perspective… sending you and your family SO much love!!
I?m stuck in my life too and can understand all of this very well. The best decisions are often the hardest ones. If you don?t move forward, even without another person whom you love, you will slowly wilt on the vine. Good luck and thank you for this blog post. I?m inspired to make some hard decisions about my own life.