We are celebrating the first anniversary of Sincerely, Divorced by sharing a list people or resources we admire and love. With the exception of one or two items, we've discovered most of the items on the list since founding Sincerely, Divorced a year ago. No one requested or paid us (there aren't any affiliate links in this post) to be included list because the only reward that truly matters to us is sharing great resources with this community.
The list (and the anniversary giveaway including some of the items on the list) is our way of thanking everyone who has poured into us and made the first year of Sincerely, Divorced more incredible than we could've ever imagined. So without further ado, here is the first annual Sincerely, Divorced Favorite Things List (not ranked in any way because we love them all). We hope you find something that changes your life for the better. ♥
The New Happy (Stephanie Harrison)
The New Happy (TNH) has shifted our thinking in a seismic way. We were already practitioners of positive reframing, but TNH has taught us how to apply this concept in a way that is more personal than circumstantial and with the added benefit of extending positivity to others.
Stephanie Harrison is disrupting old narratives like we are—and this is why we love her and her work. The New Happy is so much more than a book with beautiful illustrations—it's a movement. Imagine applying the idea of reframing to happiness—something we all seek but may not know how to personalize the concept of happiness for who we are, what our gifts are, and what our relationship to others can be.
This is what TNH is all about and we love that founder Stephanie’s incredible insights are backed by science and her diligent research. There is so much power in small shifts in thinking and TNH provides these shifts in bite-sized and colorful ways that have been easy for us to digest even when navigating divorce has gotten the best of us. TNH is teaching us to build a life—post-divorce—that feels hopeful and like happiness is completely within our reach and more importantly, something we can share with others.
Andrew Reiner, Author, Professor, and Masculinity Expert
From the very beginning, our intention was to build an inclusive philosophy of divorce support and community. This intent comes out of our personal commitment to serve anyone who needs this support and our value for spaces that affirm individual and group identities. When it comes to understanding male identities and emotions, one of the resources we’ve gone to time and time again is Andrew Reiner, an author and expert on masculinity who has has written widely about contemporary, healthy and positive masculinity for such publications as the New York Times, Washington Post and Boston Globe, among other publications.
His first book Better Boys, Better Men: The New Masculinity That Creates Greater Courage and Emotional Resiliency (HarperOne Books) explores the paralyzing struggles many boys and men are experiencing today. Through expert analysis, research and the first-hand stories of men from across the country, readers discover how when men learn to better access, process and synthesize their deeper emotional landscape, they thrive in all parts of their lives. Especially their relationships.
The Divorce Planner (Alex Beattie)
No one plans to get divorced when they get married—so when you find yourself having to plan for divorce, it's hard to know where to turn. Enter Alex Beattie, the Divorce Planner, who is one of the first Instagram friends we made through SD. Drawing from her own divorce journey and years as a film producer, she created @The Divorce Planner to provide what she desperately wished she had – a systematic approach to divorce that combines practical planning with emotional intelligence.
Through personalized coaching, a comprehensive course, and digital tools trusted by divorce attorneys, mediators, and financial planners, Alex has helped thousands tame their money fears, become their own best advocates, and transform the overwhelming divorce process into an empowering journey toward their best next chapter. We especially love the zen design and the way it becomes a trusted and informed companion for one’s divorce journey. It’s like if #youarenotalone was a planning system and that’s why it’s on our list.
Quarry Landing Airbnb
Quarry Landing is a turn-of-the-century Airbnb filled with charm and perfect for reclaiming solitude, peace, and rest from anything life throws at us. We spent a weekend there earlier this month as a location for a Sincerely, Divorced planning retreat and left wishing we could stay longer. Not only were we productive in the space, we enjoyed taking breaks to explore the quaint town of Historic Port Deposit, Maryland, which is safe, has great eateries, a waterfront promenade, playground, fishing pier, dog park, and much more.
Why is Quarry Landing on our list? It's because Amy the owner is the kind of person who makes the world a better place. When the space isn't booked, she offers it for free to a person who needs a break from the demands of life. We also benefitted from Amy's spirit of generosity in that she allowed us to stay a little longer than we were supposed to because we were in the zone with our work. When we finally checked out, it occurred to us that we should share this gem of a place with others who could benefit from a quick (affordable) getaway on the water.
Wendy Sare Meadows, Collaborative Divorce Expert
We had never heard of collaborative divorce until we were in a meeting with Wendy Meadows and she whipped out a technical diagram with lots of arrows explaining what it is, why it matters, and how to achieve it. She had us sold because collaborative divorce considers the needs and interests of all parties involved are discussed and incorporated in the complex decision-making of dividing assets, custody arrangements, etc. Collaborative divorce is best for couples who agree on several aspects of their divorce and want a non-confrontational approach, but it is a model that is worth anyone’s time to learn more about for the solution-oriented way it works.
Wendy leverages her experience as a seasoned family law attorney, trained mediator and coach, and trusted colleague to other divorce professionals in such an incredible way that we now refer to her as a Swiss Army knife of divorce. Oh, and she’s also written a book and companion journal (Sparkle and Grit) about how anyone (men sparkle too) can get unstuck from a personal or professional place they want to move on from. It's all about a mindset shift—which completely resonates with what navigating divorce requires.
Blue Q Socks
In addition to the many handwritten notes we've exchanged over the years, we've also gifted each other many pairs of Blue Q socks. When we wear them, we have a little extra pep (talk) in our step. Their products are fun, irreverent, and a portion of the sales contribute to non-profits all over the world.
With a mission to design and manufacture life-improving and joy-bringing products since 1988, their socks are one of our favorite things because they inspire hope, courage, humor and a touch of snark that we can't live without. Another thing we love is that Blue Q is a small business that values inclusivity and has a partnership with Berkshire County Arc (BCArc), through which they are able to hire individuals with disabilities to work at the company. To the wonderful folks @BlueQ: keep up the great work and can we pretty please help you make a pair of divorce socks?
Confidently Divorced (Gina Conover)
It pretty much goes without saying that support groups are near and dear to our hearts so it seemed fitting to include Gina Conover's Confidently Divorced on our list marking the first anniversary of our local in-person support group.
Gina used her experience of navigating a challenging divorce and the tools, insight, and knowledge she gained from my healing journey to create The Pathway to Healing—an online community and coaching support for women who felt invisible in their marriages and alone in their divorce to come together in a space where they feel seen, heard, and supported as they work towards healing and peace.
Like Gina, we believe in the power of community to disrupt the isolating experience of divorce. She is a kindred spirit whose empathy for others stands out as something very genuine and special.
Blindsided by Divorce (Rob Malkani)
Rob Malkani is one of the warmest and most positive people you could ever meet, which completely defies the fact that he spent seven years (from 2017 to 2024) in high conflict divorce litigation with his ex-wife. But this is exactly what inspired him to start @Blindsided by Divorce as a way to help others get through similar divorce journeys. When he is not coaching and offering great advice over at @WTF Divorce, he is a proud dad of three awesome girls who live with him half the time in Westchester, New York.
We've included Rob on our Favorite Things List because although the Sincerely, Divorced community is an inclusive space comprised of both women (63%) and men (37%), we know that male perspectives in divorce are unique and much less discussed. That said, our value for sharing multiple perspectives in addition to Rob's experience and desire to serve everyone—especially in high conflict situations—earned him a spot on this list.
Kerry Life Coach
We never imagined that learning how to overcome narcissistic abuse could be presented in such an uplifting way, but that is exactly what Kerry Rasenberger does on her page. The colors make the bite-sized advice about what is a very painful subject easy to digest.
Over the years, Kerry has immersed herself in understanding the complexities of narcissistic relationships and toxic dynamics for the benefit of others. Kerry Life Coach has a spot on our Favorite Things List because of the affirming way she interacts with us, which no doubt extends to her support of other women who want to find healing, reclaim their self-worth, and rebuild their lives with resilience.
Home Sweet Homes Journals
At the top of the list for a practical post-divorce parenting tool is the Home Sweet Homes Journal. What began as a tool to help kids of divorce thrive, express emotions and feel supported and loved is now available for all children in any type of home.
Home Sweet Homes is a journal and planner, combined in one, that stays with your child as they navigate between his/her two homes. It provides a safe space where you, your co-parent, and child can capture and share daily highlights, thoughts, and feelings as well as track events and schedules. @Fiona's journals increases children's emotional intelligence, helps them develop a growth mindset, and is a place where everyone shares and preserves wonderful memories for life.
Helping children through divorce is another one of the reasons we founded Sincerely, Divorced. Our children live with the stigma of being broken, but we know that they can and are often much better because of divorce. We love Fiona for leading the way on reminding our children how they are strong, unique, and enough.
Melody Beattie
A pioneering voice in self-help literature and the recovery movement, Melody Beattie is the author of many bestselling books—including our favorite Journey to the Heart. A dear friend gifted this book to Bethany who then shared it with Hillary, and neither one of us had any idea that it would have such a profound impact.
It’s formatted as a daily meditation book in which Beattie reflects on her experiences in relationships with herself, others, and the universe. We look forward to reading each day’s passage (year after year) and recently continued this practice with Beattie’s The Language of Letting Go meditations. Because Beattie is such a pioneer in this area, you can often find her books in thrift stores or used book sellers like the Odd Bird Bookshop (a wonderful small business based in our home state of Maryland).