Doing Divorce Different with Lesa Koski

Protecting assets in divorce doesn't have to be confusing. Learn how prenups, postnuptial agreements, trusts, inheritance, and estate planning can help protect your financial future before or during marriage.

What happens to an inheritance in a divorce? Does putting assets into a trust automatically protect them? Is a prenuptial agreement only for wealthy couples? Can a postnuptial agreement protect your family if addiction, business ownership, or financial concerns become part of your marriage?

In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, Lesa Koski sits down with Minnesota estate planning attorney Melissa Miroslavich to answer the questions many people don't realize they should be asking until it's too late.

Together they discuss protecting assets in divorce, the differences between marital and non-marital property, when prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements make sense, how trusts actually work, and why estate planning should be part of every family's long-term plan.

Whether you're happily married, engaged, considering divorce, or simply planning for the future, this conversation will help you better understand your options and make informed decisions.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What a prenup really does (and doesn't do)

• When a postnuptial agreement may be appropriate

• How inheritance is treated during divorce

• The difference between marital and non-marital property

• Common misconceptions about trusts

• How addiction or financial struggles can affect long-term planning

• Why mediation allows families to create customized solutions

Every family is unique, and every situation deserves thoughtful planning. This episode is educational in nature and is not legal advice. If you have questions about your own circumstances, consult an experienced attorney in your state.

If this episode helped you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from understanding how to better protect their family and financial future.

(00:00) Welcome and introduction to protecting assets in marriage and divorce

(02:15) What every couple should know about prenuptial agreements

(08:30) Marital vs. non-marital property explained

(13:45) Can inheritance stay separate during divorce?

(20:05) Trusts explained: Revocable vs. irrevocable trusts

(29:40) Real-life divorce scenario involving inherited assets

(37:20) Addiction, financial protection, and postnuptial agreements

(48:15) Divorce, legal separation, or postnuptial agreement—which offers the most protection?

(56:10) Estate planning after divorce

(1:02:45) Beneficiary designations people often forget to update

(1:07:30) Final thoughts and practical planning tips

• A prenuptial agreement is more than planning for divorce—it creates clarity, transparency, and shared expectations before marriage.
• Simply placing assets into a trust does not automatically protect them during a divorce.
• Keeping inherited assets separate is essential if you want to preserve their non-marital character.
• Postnuptial agreements can help couples proactively address financial concerns, but they have unique legal requirements.
• Estate planning and beneficiary designations should always be reviewed after a divorce or major life change.

Melissa Miroslavich is a Minnesota attorney focusing on estate planning, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, business succession planning, and asset protection strategies. She helps individuals, families, and business owners create thoughtful legal plans that protect what matters most while preparing for life's expected—and unexpected—transitions.

Melissa Miroslavich Law

https://miroslavichlaw.com

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If you're facing a high conflict divorce, struggling with betrayal, or wondering if life will ever feel normal again, this episode is for you.

Lesa sits down with renowned divorce coach, speaker, and host of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, Karen McMahon, for an honest conversation about what really happens during divorce—and how women can emerge stronger than ever.

Karen shares her deeply personal story of surviving a three-and-a-half-year high conflict divorce, losing herself in marriage, and rebuilding a life she now calls her greatest gift. Together, Lesa and Karen discuss emotional regulation, surrender, self-worth, people-pleasing, codependency, healing childhood wounds, and why the comeback begins long before the divorce is final.

If you've been feeling stuck, afraid, or overwhelmed, this episode will remind you that healing is possible and your best chapter may still be ahead.

Because divorce isn't the end of your story—it can be the beginning of your comeback.

(00:00) Welcome and introduction to Karen McMahon

(03:15) Karen's powerful high conflict divorce story

(08:40) Why women often lose their identity in marriage

(15:10) Emotional regulation during divorce

(22:30) Reclaiming your identity and rebuilding confidence

(30:05) The power of surrender and letting go of control

(38:20) Breaking free from victim mentality and embracing acceptance

(47:15) Healing betrayal, grief, and emotional wounds

(55:40) How to get unstuck and move forward after divorce

(1:03:30) Creating your comeback and envisioning your future self

• Many women lose their identity long before divorce begins—and healing starts by reconnecting with yourself.
• Emotional regulation allows you to make wiser decisions during divorce instead of reacting from fear.
• Acceptance isn't giving up; it's letting go of what you can't control while taking responsibility for what you can.
• Your divorce does not define your future—your response to it does.
• The comeback begins when you start becoming the woman you were created to be.

Karen McMahon is a nationally recognized divorce coach, speaker, and host of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast. After surviving a lengthy high conflict divorce herself, she dedicated her career to helping women reclaim their confidence, rebuild their identity, and create a life they truly love after divorce. Karen has coached thousands of individuals through one of life's most difficult transitions with compassion, practical strategies, and hope.

Karen McMahon

Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast

Website: https://journeybeyonddivorce.com

Lesa Koski

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Financial planning for divorce doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Learn how to take control of your money, reduce financial fear, and confidently navigate divorce with expert guidance from Certified Financial Planner Donna Jean Kendrick.

Divorce can leave even the smartest women feeling overwhelmed by money. Whether you're preparing for divorce, recovering from widowhood, or simply want to become more financially confident, this conversation is packed with practical advice that can change your future.

In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, Lesa sits down with Certified Financial Planner® Donna Jean Kendrick, who transformed her own heartbreaking story into a mission of helping women navigate life's biggest financial transitions.

After unexpectedly losing her first husband, Donna discovered firsthand how confusing—and frightening—financial decisions can become during times of grief. Today, she specializes in helping women create confidence, clarity, and financial security through financial planning for divorce, widowhood, and blended families.

Together, Lesa and Donna discuss why every woman should understand her finances, regardless of her marital status, and how financial planning for divorce can eliminate fear, provide clarity, and create lasting peace of mind. They also share practical steps you can take today to become financially empowered before a crisis ever happens.

Whether you're considering divorce, currently in the middle of one, rebuilding afterward, or simply want to become more financially informed, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful, prepared, and empowered.

If you're ready to take action, Donna also shares her free 6-Week Financial Challenge to help you organize your financial life one simple step at a time.

(00:00) Introduction to Donna Jean Kendrick and her inspiring mission

(03:10) Losing her husband and rebuilding life from the ground up

(10:12) Why major life transitions make financial decisions so difficult

(16:42) The importance of slowing down before making money decisions

(21:30) How financial planners help women through divorce and widowhood

(27:05) Why knowledge replaces financial fear

(34:18) The Divorce Money Map and organizing your financial life

(42:14) Lessons every married woman should learn about finances

(50:27) Why every woman should understand her own money—even in a happy marriage

(58:33) Practical financial habits that create confidence and peace

(1:04:45) Donna's books, free resources, and 6-Week Financial Challenge

• Financial fear decreases dramatically when you understand what you own, owe, and control.
• Major life transitions are not the time to make rushed financial decisions—slow down and seek trusted guidance.
• Every woman should know where important financial documents, accounts, and assets are located, regardless of her relationship status.
• Building financial confidence starts with small, manageable steps—not becoming an expert overnight.
• Financial planning is about creating peace of mind, not just growing wealth.

Donna Jean Kendrick is a **Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), author, speaker, and host of the Widow Wisdom & Wealth Podcast. After losing her first husband unexpectedly, Donna dedicated her career to helping widows, divorced women, and blended families confidently navigate life's financial transitions. Through education, compassion, and practical tools, she empowers women to build financial clarity and long-term security.

Donna Jean Kendrick

Website: https://donnajeankendrick.com

FREE 6-Week Financial Challenge

Get your financial house in order in just six weeks. Each week, Donna sends a short video and simple action step to help you organize your finances and build confidence.

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Books by Donna Jean Kendrick

• The Divorce Money Map
• A Guide to Widowhood
• A Guide to Blended Families

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Doing Divorce Different Podcast

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Divorce recovery, anxiety, betrayal, emotional healing, and finding peace after divorce—if you've ever felt like your mind won't stop spinning, this episode is for you.

Why do we replay conversations, obsess over the past, or constantly worry about the future after divorce or a painful life transition?

In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, I sit down with therapist Brian Burns to explore why our minds "spin out" after divorce, betrayal, grief, cancer, and other unexpected life events. We discuss practical tools for calming anxious thoughts, letting go of what we cannot control, and finding peace even when life doesn't go as planned.

As someone who has personally walked through breast cancer, difficult seasons in marriage, and years of helping women navigate divorce, this conversation deeply resonated with me. Brian shares simple but life-changing concepts that can help you stop carrying burdens that were never yours to carry.

Whether you're considering divorce, healing after divorce, navigating betrayal, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life, this episode will remind you that peace doesn't come from controlling everything—it comes from learning where your responsibility begins and ends.

If you've ever felt emotionally exhausted from trying to fix everyone around you, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ If this episode encourages you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need a little hope today.

(00:00) Why women "spin out" after divorce and difficult life events

(03:15) Introducing therapist Brian Burns

(07:42) Why our brains become trapped in anxiety and overthinking

(13:28) Understanding what belongs to you—and what doesn't

(20:05) The connection between betrayal, fear, and trying to control outcomes

(27:46) Lesa shares her breast cancer journey and lessons about surrender

(36:30) Faith, acceptance, and learning to live with uncertainty

(45:18) Practical tools for calming your mind when you begin spinning

(54:40) Finding peace in the middle of life's hardest seasons

(1:02:10) Final encouragement and next steps

• Trying to control other people's choices often creates more anxiety than peace.
• Healing begins when we learn the difference between our responsibility and someone else's.
• Divorce, betrayal, illness, and grief can all trigger emotional "spinning," but there are healthy ways to interrupt that cycle.
• Faith, mindfulness, and healthy boundaries help us navigate uncertainty with greater peace.
• You don't have to have every answer today. Your next right step is enough.

Brian Burns is a licensed therapist, speaker, and educator who helps individuals and couples navigate anxiety, relationships, emotional healing, and personal growth. His practical approach combines clinical experience with compassionate insight, helping people understand why they become emotionally overwhelmed and how to move toward healthier patterns of thinking, communication, and peace.

AI and divorce, divorce mediation, divorce coaching, divorce options, collaborative divorce, and DIY divorce—this episode explores how artificial intelligence can help you navigate divorce while avoiding costly mistakes.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way people gather information, organize documents, prepare for meetings, and communicate during divorce. But can AI actually help you make better divorce decisions?

In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, Lesa Koski explores the benefits and limitations of using AI during divorce. You'll learn how AI can help you understand the divorce process, organize financial information, prepare for mediation, communicate more effectively, and explore your legal options.

You'll also discover where AI falls short and why divorce still requires human wisdom, professional guidance, and thoughtful decision-making.

Whether you're considering mediation, collaborative divorce, working with attorneys, or handling parts of your divorce yourself, this episode will help you understand how to use AI as a powerful tool without relying on it as your only source of support.

Remember: AI can provide information, but it cannot replace wisdom, experience, or human connection.

(00:00) Introduction: Can AI Help You Through Divorce?

(02:12) How AI Can Help You Understand Divorce

(05:48) Using AI to Organize Financial Documents and Information

(08:15) Preparing for Mediation, Coaching, and Attorney Meetings

(11:10) How AI Can Improve Communication During Divorce

(15:02) The Biggest Limitations of AI in Divorce

(19:15) Why AI Can't Negotiate or Mediate for You

(23:20) Understanding Your Divorce Options

(24:05) DIY Divorce: When It May Work and When It Doesn't

(27:18) The Benefits of Divorce Mediation

(30:12) Working with Attorneys and Limited-Scope Legal Services

(33:05) Collaborative Divorce Explained

(35:50) When Litigation May Be Necessary

(39:12) The Best Ways to Use AI During Divorce

(42:08) Final Thoughts: Information vs. Wisdom

• AI is an excellent tool for education, organization, brainstorming, and preparation during divorce.

• AI can help you communicate more effectively but cannot replace real conversations, negotiation, or mediation.

• Divorce laws vary by state, and AI-generated legal information should always be verified.

• Mediation, collaborative divorce, and attorney support each serve different needs depending on your situation.

• The best outcomes happen when you combine technology with experienced human guidance.

• Divorce Roadmap

• Divorce Clarity Session

• Divorce Comeback Community

• Minnesota DIY Divorce Course

• Divorce Mediation Services with Lesa Koski

Connect with Lesa:

Website: www.lesakoski.com

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Divorce mistakes, divorce recovery, women over 40, divorce support, life after divorce, divorce coaching, and emotional healing. In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, Lesa Koski shares the seven most common divorce mistakes she sees women make—and how to avoid them.

If you're navigating divorce, feeling overwhelmed, worried about finances, struggling with parenting decisions, or wondering how you'll rebuild your life, this episode is for you. Lesa draws from years of experience as a divorce mediator and coach to help women avoid costly mistakes while holding onto hope for the future.

You'll learn how to make better decisions during divorce, overcome fear around finances, protect your children from emotional fallout, build a support system, care for your physical and emotional health, and most importantly, keep hope alive during one of life's hardest transitions.

Divorce recovery is not about being perfect. It's about taking the next right step. Whether you're considering divorce, currently going through it, or rebuilding afterward, this episode will help you move forward with more confidence and clarity.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction to the most common divorce mistakes

(03:10) Making decisions based on emotion instead of information

(08:45) Overcoming fear about finances during divorce

(15:12) Why the court won't provide emotional justice

(21:35) Protecting children during divorce

(28:05) The danger of refusing help and support

(34:18) Why taking care of your body matters during divorce

(42:40) Holding onto hope when life feels uncertain

(49:10) Final encouragement and next steps

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Slow down and gather information before making major financial or legal decisions.

• Learning about your finances can reduce fear and build confidence.

• Children should never be used as messengers, therapists, or allies during divorce.

• Healing happens faster when you ask for help and build community.

• Hope is believing something good can still come from something hard.

HOST BIO:

Lesa Koski is a divorce mediator, coach, attorney, and host of Doing Divorce Different. She helps women over 40 navigate divorce with greater confidence, clarity, and hope through mediation, coaching, courses, and community. Her mission is to help women understand that midlife is not their crisis—it's their comeback.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Free Divorce Roadmap:

www.lesakoski.com

Divorce Comeback Community:

www.lesakoski.com

Connect with Lesa:

www.lesakoski.com

TAGS/KEYWORDS:

divorce mistakes, divorce recovery, women over 40, divorce support, divorce coach, divorce mediator, life after divorce, emotional healing, financial confidence after divorce, co-parenting, child custody, divorce advice for women, midlife women, rebuilding after divorce, hope after divorce, divorce comeback, divorce roadmap, women and divorce, personal growth after divorce

Divorce recovery, women's health after divorce, stress management, midlife wellness, strength training for women, emotional healing and divorce. In this episode of Doing Divorce Different, Lesa Koski shares how getting physically strong can help you become emotionally resilient during divorce and other difficult life transitions.

When life feels overwhelming, many women focus on the legal and emotional aspects of divorce recovery while overlooking how stress impacts the body. Lesa opens up about her own experiences with divorce, adoption, breast cancer, anxiety, and learning how surrendering control changed everything.

You'll discover practical ways to reduce stress, increase energy, build confidence, and strengthen your body during difficult seasons. From protein and fiber to walking, weightlifting, community, faith, and self-compassion, this episode offers simple strategies that can help support your divorce recovery and overall well-being.

If you're navigating divorce recovery, heartbreak, grief, reinvention, or any season that feels heavy, this conversation will remind you that healing happens one small step at a time.

Remember: Midlife is not your crisis. It's your comeback.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Why stress impacts your body during divorce

(03:15) Lessons learned from breast cancer, surrender, and healing

(06:40) The connection between emotional health and physical strength

(09:05) Why walking can calm anxiety and regulate emotions

(11:22) Building strength instead of chasing skinny

(13:18) Protein, fiber, and simple nutrition changes that matter

(16:20) The power of a 10-minute walk after meals

(18:15) Why weightlifting is essential for women over 40

(21:08) Finding community and fun during difficult seasons

(23:55) How exercise helped during cancer treatment

(27:12) Learning to laugh at yourself: Lesa's YMCA story

(32:20) Keeping promises to yourself builds confidence

(35:15) Small steps that create lasting transformation

(38:45) Midlife is not your crisis—it's your comeback

(40:10) Free Divorce Roadmap and Divorce Comeback Community

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Physical strength supports emotional healing during divorce and life transitions.

• Small habits like walking after meals and increasing protein can significantly improve energy and mood.

• Weightlifting helps women maintain muscle, bone health, confidence, and resilience after 40.

• Healing often begins by keeping small promises to yourself consistently.

• Community, faith, laughter, and movement are powerful tools for navigating hard seasons.

HOST BIO:

Lesa Koski is a divorce mediator, divorce coach, attorney, podcast host, and founder of Doing Divorce Different. She helps women over 40 navigate divorce with more clarity, confidence, and hope through mediation, coaching, courses, and community. Lesa's mission is to help women understand that midlife is not their crisis—it's their comeback.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Free Divorce Roadmap:

https://lesakoski.com

Divorce Comeback Community:

https://lesakoski.com

Connect with Lesa:

https://lesakoski.com

Podcast:

Doing Divorce Different

TAGS/KEYWORDS:

divorce recovery, divorce support for women, women over 40, divorce healing, emotional healing, stress management, strength training for women, protein for women over 40, midlife wellness, divorce coach, divorce mediation, anxiety recovery, breast cancer survivor, women's health, personal growth, faith and healing, resilience after divorce, life after divorce, self-care during divorce, menopause fitness

How to tell your spouse you want a divorce is one of the hardest conversations a person may ever face. In this episode, Lesa Koski shares compassionate, practical guidance on how to tell your spouse you want a divorce with honesty, emotional maturity, and less unnecessary trauma.

If you are considering divorce, preparing for difficult conversations, or trying to navigate divorce in a healthier way, this episode will help you approach this life-changing moment with more clarity and humanity.

Lesa discusses:

• why timing matters
• how to avoid escalating conflict
• why your spouse may need time to process
• how to communicate clearly without cruelty
• and how to protect children emotionally during divorce

This episode also addresses situations involving abuse, control, addiction, or fear for safety and why those situations require additional support and planning.

If you want to do divorce differently—with less destruction and more emotional awareness—this conversation is for you.

(00:00) Introduction to one of the hardest divorce conversations

(02:10) Why you should never bring up divorce during a fight

(04:15) Understanding that you’ve had a “head start” emotionally

(06:50) Giving your spouse time to process the conversation

(09:05) Why over-explaining and unloading years of pain can backfire

(11:20) How to be clear without being cruel

(14:00) Why emotional regulation matters during divorce conversations

(16:15) Protecting children emotionally during divorce

(18:30) Abuse, addiction, fear, and when safety planning is necessary

(21:10) How to reduce trauma and lifelong damage during divorce

(23:00) Final encouragement and support for listeners

• Timing and emotional regulation matter during difficult divorce conversations
• Your spouse may be hearing this for the first time while you’ve processed it for months or years
• Clarity is important, but cruelty is not necessary
• Children benefit when parents approach divorce with emotional maturity and less conflict
• Abuse or safety concerns require a completely different approach and professional support

In this solo episode, Lesa Koski—a divorce attorney, mediator, coach, and host of Doing Divorce Different—shares practical and compassionate guidance for navigating one of the most emotionally difficult conversations in marriage. Lesa is passionate about helping people move through divorce with less trauma, more clarity, and emotional integrity.

• Work with Lesa Koski: LesaKoski.com
• Learn About Divorce Mediation: Doing Divorce Different Podcast

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Reinvent yourself after divorce, take control of your finances, and build a new life with confidence. If you’re navigating divorce, life transitions, or wondering how to reinvent yourself after divorce, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and hope.

In this episode, Lesa sits down with Melissa Broughton, founder of Busy Bee Advisors and creator of the One Hour Bookkeeper, who shares her powerful story of walking away from corporate life, facing a life-altering accident, and building a thriving business from her dining room table.

Together, they unpack what it really takes to reinvent yourself after divorce or any major life transition—how to find your “why,” create financial independence, and build a life on your terms. This episode is a must-listen if you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start taking your power back.

(00:00) Introduction to reinvention after divorce and life transitions

(02:15) Melissa’s unexpected path into accounting

(06:40) Corporate success without balance—and the breaking point

(10:20) Leaving her job and choosing a different path

(13:45) The life-changing accident that forced stillness and clarity

(18:30) Starting a business from scratch with no safety net

(23:10) How she built a successful bookkeeping company

(28:00) From burnout to purpose: discovering a new calling

(32:20) Creating a course and helping women build businesses

(36:45) Why “trying” isn’t enough—finding your true WHY

(40:10) The power of stillness during hard transitions

(44:00) Taking control of your finances after divorce

(48:15) Why financial knowledge = personal power

• Reinvention starts with clarity, not perfection
• A strong “why” is the difference between success and staying stuck
• Stillness can create the breakthrough you’ve been searching for
• Financial understanding is one of the most powerful tools after divorce
• You have more control over your future than you think

Melissa Broughton is the founder of Busy Bee Advisors and creator of the One Hour Bookkeeper program, where she teaches women how to build flexible, profitable bookkeeping businesses. After leaving corporate America and overcoming a major life setback, Melissa built a thriving business from home and now helps thousands of women create financial independence and freedom on their own terms.

• Melissa’s Course: https://1hourbookkeeper.com 3-Step Guide to Achieving Work Life Balance (Click HERE for the link to share)

Work with Lesa Koski: https://lesakoski.com

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How to get through hard times, navigate divorce, grief, and life transitions—this episode will help you find hope, faith, and strength when life falls apart. If you’re searching for how to get through hard times, especially after divorce, loss, or a major life transition, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

In this deeply moving episode, Lesa sits down with Edith Espinola, a realtor and life coach, who shares her powerful story of losing her husband suddenly during a separation and navigating grief, guilt, and identity loss.

Together, they unpack practical and spiritual tools to help you move forward—including gratitude, community, emotional release, self-love, forgiveness, faith, and surrender. If you're in the middle of something hard, this episode will remind you: you are not alone, and this season can lead to strength, healing, and hope.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to life transitions and hard seasons

(02:10) Edith’s story: loss, separation, and unexpected grief

(06:45) Navigating guilt, identity loss, and community breakdown

(10:30) The “dark night of the soul” and emotional overwhelm

(14:15) Why gratitude becomes a lifeline in hard times

(18:20) The power of community and sharing your truth

(22:10) Letting emotions move through you (and why it matters)

(25:30) Finding healing through movement, fun, and connection

(29:45) Relearning who you are after loss or divorce

(33:10) Self-love, forgiveness, and releasing shame

(37:20) Faith, surrender, and trusting the process

(41:00) Why hard seasons become your greatest growth

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude can shift your focus and ground you during overwhelming seasons
• Emotional release (not suppression) is essential for healing
• Community and connection are critical during life transitions
• Self-love and forgiveness unlock growth after loss or divorce
• Faith and surrender create peace when life feels out of control

Guest Bio:

Edith Espinola is a realtor and transformational life coach who helps individuals navigate life’s most difficult transitions, including grief, divorce, and identity shifts. After experiencing the sudden loss of her husband during a separation, Edith rebuilt her life through healing, faith, and personal growth—and now guides others to do the same.

Resource Links:

• Connect with Edith Espinola: http://edithespinola.com
• Work with Lesa Koski: https://lesakoski.com
• Join The Comeback Community (Women 40+): (insert link)

Tags/Keywords:

how to get through hard times, divorce recovery, grief healing, life transitions, women over 40, faith and surrender, emotional healing, self love and forgiveness, navigating loss, personal growth after divorce