When comedian Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) divorced from fellow A-list comedian, Will Arnett (Arrested Development), the comedy world reacted with understandable distress. Our Northern Virginia divorce attorneys want to zoom in on a recent quote that Poehler offered about divorce, because it struck us as both poignant and true. Poehler, who’s finishing up a new book called Yes Please that allegedly addresses her split from Arnett among other milestones in her life and career, had previously confessed that the divorce was “too sad… too personal” to discuss in public. However, she did come up with this stimulating metaphor: “imagine spreading everything you care about on a blanket and then tossing the whole thing up in the air… the process of divorce is about loading that blanket, throwing it up, watching it all spin and worrying what stuff will break when it lands.”
Poehler’s quote is very true for a variety of reasons:
- Divorce often makes you feel like a Chinese acrobat spinning 20 plates. Life was busy even when your marriage was intact. When you end a marriage, all of a sudden things that had been “strapped down” in your life suddenly go flying off in the space. These elements go beyond your relationship with your spouse and extend to include your finances, your relationship with your kids, your social life and even where you live. (As Poehler also noted “getting a divorce really sucks.”)
- “Worrying stuff will break when it lands” is very common. You’ve accumulated a lot of real world assets as well as experiences in your life. When you go through divorce, you not only risk losing these real world assets (e.g. the armoire your great aunt Susie gave you that your husband now wants) but you also risk seeing your most cherished family memories tainted by the strife.
- You also recognize that eventually the blanket will “land.” One day, the divorce will be over, and you can rebuild. As much as you’re panicked about the chaos and all the uncertainties unfolding, you’re also looking to the future to clean up the mess, pack up your stuff, and move on… and hopefully have a picnic somewhere else.
For help understanding the intricacies and best strategies for your divorce, call the experienced Fairfax Virginia divorce attorneys here at DiPietro Law Group, PLLC at (888) 530-4374 to schedule a consultation with us.