April 14 – National Ex-Spouse Day

National Ex-Spouse Day is Today!

Download the 38 Hertz Celebration Book for 365 days of celebrations!

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL EX-SPOUSE DAY

•  Read “Unconscious Coupling, 5 Steps to Living Happily Even After.”
•  Learn how to have peaceful events that include your ex.
•  Get it off your chest on LettertoMyEx.com
•  Should you get back together?  Find out here.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM ON NATIONAL EX-SPOUSE DAY

Despite the common belief that ex-spouses are to be despised and forgotten, you can try a different perspective.  Appreciate them for the valuable lessons they have taught you. After all, they were once a significant part of your life, and their presence can never be erased entirely. Instead of holding onto bitterness and resentment, choose to appreciate the good times shared and the ways your ex positively impacted your life.

So, on National Ex-Spouse Day, here’s to ex-spouses, may we always be grateful for the role they played in shaping us into the people we are today, and for many, the beautiful children they created with us.  Divorce is never an easy process. Emotions run high, blame is thrown around, and it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

NATIONAL EX-SPOUSE DAY:  THE HISTORY OF DIVORCE

The history of divorce is a complex journey that spans centuries. In ancient civilizations, divorce was often permissible, with laws evolving to address familial and societal needs. In ancient Rome, for instance, divorce became more accessible, reflecting changing attitudes towards marriage. However, during medieval times, the Catholic Church strongly opposed divorce, considering it a sin. The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century brought varied views on divorce across Europe. The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed legal reforms, granting greater autonomy to individuals seeking divorce.

Today, divorce is a recognized and regulated aspect of family law worldwide, reflecting evolving societal norms and attitudes towards marriage.  On National Ex-Spouse Day, embrace the opportunity to find peace and happiness in your relationship.

TEN REALLY EXPENSIVE DIVORCES

1.  Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott (2019): Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott’s divorce settlement was estimated at $35 billion, making it one of the most expensive divorces in history.
2. Bill and Melinda Gates (2021): The divorce of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Melinda Gates involves a substantial financial settlement, with billions at stake from their vast wealth.
3. Alec and Jocelyn Wildenstein (1999): Often referred to as one of the costliest divorces, the art dealer Alec Wildenstein paid his ex-wife Jocelyn a reported $2.5 billion settlement.
4. Rupert Murdoch and Anna Torv (1999): Media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s divorce from Anna Torv reportedly cost him around $1.7 billion.
5. Harold and Sue Ann Hamm (2015): The divorce of Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources, and Sue Ann Hamm concluded with a settlement estimated at around $1 billion.
6. Dmitry and Elena Rybolovlev (2014): Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev’s divorce from Elena resulted in a reported $4.5 billion settlement, including real estate and other assets.
7. Steve and Elaine Wynn (2010): Casino magnate Steve Wynn’s divorce from Elaine Wynn was settled at approximately $1 billion.
8. Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone (2009): Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone’s divorce from Slavica was settled at around $1.2 billion.
9. Craig and Wendy McCaw (1998): Telecommunications entrepreneur Craig McCaw’s divorce from Wendy McCaw reportedly cost him over $460 million.
10. Mel Gibson and Robyn Moore (2011): Actor Mel Gibson’s divorce from Robyn Moore resulted in a settlement of around $425 million, making it one of Hollywood’s priciest divorces.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE EX-SPOUSE DAY

1. Write a gratitude list: Reflect on positive lessons or personal growth that came from the relationship and its end.
2. Host a self-care day: Spend time pampering yourself with activities like spa treatments or yoga to focus on personal well-being.
3. Reconnect with old friends: Use the day to rebuild or strengthen friendships that may have taken a back seat during your marriage.
4. Send a positive message: If you’re on good terms, send a cordial note or message to your ex, thanking them for what you’ve learned.
5. Have a symbolic bonfire: Safely burn old photos or letters as a symbolic act of closure and moving on.
6. Take a solo day trip: Visit a place that you’ve always wanted to see but never had the chance to during your marriage.
7. Start a new hobby: Sign up for a class or begin a hobby that represents your independence and interests.
8. Celebrate with a “Freedom Party”: Host a small gathering of close friends to celebrate your new chapter in life.
9. Donate items from your marriage: Clear out old belongings tied to your ex by donating them to a charity.
10. Create a vision board: Visualize your goals and aspirations for the future without your ex-spouse.
11. Volunteer for a cause: Spend the day giving back to your community to channel your energy in a positive direction.
12. Get active: Participate in a physical activity like hiking or running to release stress and boost your mood.
13. Write a letter to yourself: Craft a letter acknowledging your resilience and how far you’ve come since the split.
14. Cook a new recipe: Make a dish that your ex didn’t enjoy, embracing your tastes and preferences.
15. Visit a therapist or life coach: Use the day to work on healing or personal growth with the help of a professional.
16. Go on a shopping spree: Treat yourself to something special as a reminder of your independence and self-worth.
17. Watch a favorite movie: Indulge in a movie that your ex never liked but you always enjoyed.
18. Host a book club: Pick a book about self-growth or new beginnings and discuss it with friends.
19. Write your “next chapter”: Journal about your plans and ambitions for the future, post-divorce.
20. Create a playlist: Make a playlist filled with empowering or uplifting songs that reflect your journey of healing.
21. Declutter your home: Use the day to reorganize and redecorate your space to reflect your current life.
22. Plan a solo vacation: Start planning a getaway to a destination you’ve always wanted to visit on your own terms.
23. Attend a workshop or seminar: Learn something new or attend a seminar focused on self-development or emotional health.
24. Engage in a creative project: Paint, write, or engage in any other artistic outlet that allows you to express your feelings constructively.
25. Send an anonymous kind note: Brighten someone else’s day by leaving a positive note, knowing you’re spreading kindness despite your own hardships.
26. Divorce Bingo: Create a bingo card with typical post-divorce experiences or funny things people say, and mark them off as they come up.
27. Ex Trivia: Gather friends and play a trivia game about each other’s exes, testing how much everyone remembers about old stories.
28. Pictionary: Relationship Edition: Play Pictionary but with relationship-themed prompts, like “first date” or “awkward breakup.”
29. Truth or Dare: Post-Divorce Style: Ask truth questions or give dares related to dating, post-divorce changes, or funny ex moments.
30. Name That Tune: Breakup Songs: Create a playlist of breakup songs and see who can guess the title and artist first.
31. Ex-Themed Charades: Act out relationship clichés or common breakup scenarios for your friends to guess.
32. Who’s Most Likely To: Play a game where players vote on who’s most likely to do various post-divorce activities, like “most likely to delete all their ex’s pictures.”
33. Memory Matching Game: Create a matching game using relationship milestones, pairing first dates with locations, anniversaries with gifts, etc.
34. Relationship Red Flags Quiz: Create a quiz where players identify red flags in hypothetical relationship scenarios and score points for the best answers.
35. Two Truths and a Lie: Ex Edition: Each player shares two truths and one lie about their ex, and others guess which one is false.
36. Speed Dating Simulation: Play a light-hearted version of speed dating among friends, making jokes about post-divorce dating struggles.
37. Wheel of Life: Spin a wheel with different “life after divorce” categories and complete a challenge or question based on where it lands.
38. Ex-Pictionary: Draw a memorable experience from your marriage or breakup and let others guess what it is.
39. Jenga with a Twist: Write post-divorce-themed questions or tasks on Jenga blocks, and complete them as you pull each block.
40. Relationship Jeopardy: Set up a Jeopardy game with categories like “Breakup Blunders,” “Exes in Movies,” or “Moving On.”
41. Never Have I Ever: Divorce Edition: Play a round of “Never Have I Ever” with statements related to life after divorce or funny ex-spouse moments.
42. Board Game Revenge: Play a competitive board game like Monopoly but with the goal of outwitting others, symbolically “winning” at life after divorce.
43. Meme Caption Contest: Create or find funny divorce-related images and have friends compete to write the best captions.
44. Ex-Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with tasks or items that remind players of quirky ex-related moments.
45. Divorce Cards Against Humanity: Play Cards Against Humanity, adding a few custom cards related to divorce or relationships for extra laughs.
46. Spin the Truth: Spin a bottle and ask the person it lands on a truth question about their past relationship or post-divorce life.
47. Red Flag Relay: Players race to list as many red flags from a past relationship as they can before time runs out.
48. Divorce Mad Libs: Fill out Mad Libs-style stories related to funny or ridiculous divorce or breakup scenarios.
49. Post-Divorce Bingo: Make a bingo card with typical post-divorce milestones or sayings (like “I need a fresh start”) and play during the day.
50. Guess the Breakup Movie: Watch clips or describe scenes from famous breakup movies, and see who can guess the title the fastest.
51. Breakup Piñata: Create a piñata shaped like something symbolic of your past relationship, fill it with candy, and smash it as a fun stress-relief activity.
52. Smash Art: Take old plates or mugs you don’t need anymore, paint them with symbolic images, and then break them to make mosaic art.
53. Memory Box Transformation: Take an old box filled with memories of your ex and repurpose it into something new, like a “new beginnings” box.
54. Divorce Survival Kit: Make a decorative kit filled with small items like chocolates, candles, and self-care products, celebrating how you’ve moved on.
55. Inspirational Quote Board: Create a wall hanging or board with empowering quotes about independence and strength after a breakup.
56. Recycled Jewelry: If you have jewelry from your relationship that you no longer wear, turn it into something new by using it in a DIY craft project.
57. Personalized Candle: Decorate or make a candle with a customized label or design representing your newfound independence.
58. Ex-Photo Collage: Make a collage of your favorite self-photos or with friends that represent happy moments without your ex.
59. Vision Board: Create a vision board filled with pictures, quotes, and items that represent your goals and future aspirations post-divorce.
60. Affirmation Stones: Paint small stones with positive affirmations like “freedom” or “new beginnings” to place around your home.
61. Broken Heart Art: Create abstract art using broken or torn materials to symbolize healing from heartbreak.
62. Upcycled Clothes: Take an old T-shirt or item associated with your ex and repurpose it into something fun like a pillow or tote bag.
63. Forgiveness Letters Craft: Write letters to your ex that you don’t send, then turn them into shredded art or paper sculptures.
64. Customized Mug: Design a mug with a funny or empowering divorce-related quote to use daily.
65. Divorce Scrapbook: Craft a scrapbook that celebrates your new life and the fun things you’ve done since your breakup.
66. Repurposed Jewelry Holder: Make a jewelry holder from something your ex gave you, turning it into a useful and symbolic item.
67. Self-Care Jar: Create a jar filled with slips of paper that have self-care ideas written on them to pick out when you need a boost.
68. Freedom Banner: Sew or craft a decorative banner to hang in your home with words like “freedom” or “new chapter.”
69. Ceramic Painting: Paint a broken heart or other symbols of moving on onto ceramics, creating a piece that reflects your journey.
70. Divorce Celebration Cake Topper: Make a humorous cake topper using paper or clay that commemorates your new single life.
71. Journaling Box: Create a personalized box to hold a journal dedicated to writing about your growth and reflections post-divorce.
72. Empowerment Mirror: Decorate a mirror with positive affirmations and designs to boost your confidence every time you see it.
73. New Beginnings Wreath: Craft a wreath with symbols of fresh starts, like flowers or birds, to hang on your door.
74. Paint a Freedom Mural: If you have a blank wall or large canvas, create a mural filled with colors and images representing your freedom and new life.
75. Upcycled Ex Gifts: Take gifts from your ex that you no longer use and upcycle them into something creative, like a new piece of home decor.
76. “New Beginnings” Smoothie: Blend together fresh fruits like strawberries and bananas to symbolize the sweetness of moving forward.
77. “Tear-Free” Onion Dip: A creamy onion dip with caramelized onions, cream cheese, and herbs to enjoy without shedding any tears.
78. “Single and Fabulous” Pizza: Make a personal-sized pizza topped with all your favorite ingredients that you never had to compromise on.
79. “No More Half” Avocado Toast: Toast with mashed avocado and toppings you love, representing you no longer being anyone’s “other half.”
80. “Moving On” Mac and Cheese: A comforting dish of mac and cheese made just the way you like it, with extra cheese for indulgence.
81. “Ex-ellent” Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with your favorite toppings like cheese, beans, and jalapeños, to celebrate your new flavor-filled life.
82. “Breakup BBQ” Sliders: Mini BBQ chicken sliders with tangy sauce to savor the taste of freedom.
83. “Freedom Fries”: Sweet potato fries seasoned with spices that reflect your newfound independence.
84. “Fresh Start” Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad filled with vibrant veggies, representing a healthy new chapter.
85. “I Donut Need You” Donuts: Homemade donuts decorated with sprinkles and icing, because you don’t need anyone else to sweeten your day.
86. “Better Off” Brownies: Rich, gooey brownies that taste as sweet as your new life without the drama.
87. “Goodbye Guacamole”: A zesty guacamole with lime and cilantro, perfect for dipping while saying goodbye to the past.
88. “Unbreakable” Chocolate Bark: Layered chocolate bark with nuts and dried fruit to represent your resilience.
89. “Cheers to Me” Mocktail: A refreshing non-alcoholic drink with sparkling water, fresh mint, and lime, to toast to your own happiness.
90. “Sayonara Salsa”: A spicy homemade salsa with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños, perfect for spicing up your single life.
91. “Over It” Ice Cream Sundae: Create a decadent sundae with your favorite toppings to enjoy in celebration of your self-love.
92. “Freedom Frittata”: A veggie-packed frittata that symbolizes a fresh start and a nutritious new path.
93. “New Chapter” Cheese Board: A fancy cheese board with a variety of cheeses, fruits, and crackers, perfect for enjoying with friends.
94. “Empowered Egg Rolls”: Crispy, homemade egg rolls filled with your favorite veggies, symbolizing the joy of doing things your way.
95. “Better Without You” Baked Ziti: A hearty baked ziti with all the cheese and flavors you love, made for no one but yourself.
96. “Solo Success” Sushi: Homemade sushi rolls with all your favorite ingredients, because you’re rolling into a bright future.
97. “Independent” Ice Pops: Fresh fruit popsicles made from puréed fruits like watermelon and berries, to cool off and enjoy your freedom.
98. “Free to Brie” Grilled Cheese: A gooey grilled cheese made with brie and a side of tomato soup for ultimate comfort.
99. “Cut the Ties” Spaghetti: A big bowl of spaghetti, symbolizing cutting ties with the past, enjoyed with garlic bread.
100. “Just Desserts” Cake: Bake and decorate a cake with your favorite flavors and colors to celebrate the sweet satisfaction of moving forward.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Ex-Spouse Day?  Please share them!