What would you do if your marriage ended?
Me: Take a chance on Greek
Picture the scene, your 20+ years marriage has ended and you’re shell-shocked. You imagined death being the only parting and now you’re suddenly single again, in your forties.
Is it scary? Yes!
Did you spend long lonely nights crying into your pillow? Also, yes!
Did you imagine yourself with only cats for company until the end of your days? Again, yes!
The end of a long-term relationship is like a grief. You wonder how this could have happened. You irrationally blame yourself. You mourn everything you had come to rely on for so long. But then one day, when the tears have dried, when you’ve started to heal and reevaluate, you realise that ‘stability’ is sometimes exactly what has been holding you back from being your most authentic self.
And then, you decide to move to a Greek island full-time and, after a time of self-reflection and many kilometres of running at the gym, you discover the delights of dating apps for the first time…
‘Are you single?’
‘Where are you from?’
‘Do you live alone?’
I had a few rules. At least 25. But under 50. Greek. Well, I was a girl needing to learn a new language after all. And you had to be able to have a conversation without sending me a penis pic. If you can’t talk to me about the merits of Olympiacos’s Mouzakitis without wondering what my boobs look like then this only ends with an unmatch. For me, intelligence is sexier than any body part and I’m not here to waste time, I am a 40+ woman who could be eaten by hungry stray cats any day now!
There were conversations with some, a few video calls and I got better at it – I think! Then there was Giorgos… and Thanos *delightful sigh* and obviously a Spiros, but then there was someone else, something better.
Mr 29-year-old: Heyyyy. How was your day?
Then:-
Me: I’m a writer. I write romantic books about English women meeting hot Greek guys!
Him: Oh really? That’s freaking lovely
Me: You don’t mind that I’m quite a lot older?
Him: No. Is it OK? You look lovely.
Next:-
Him: Kalimera beautiful
Him: I’m thinking about you
Him: I’m so lucky I got you
Him: I wanna drive you
Me: You already do. Crazy
Him: Hahaha perfect
Me: Where you driving me then?
Him: To your heart
Younger guys find older women attractive for many reasons – they are experienced (in life and love), they usually have their life together (home, job, friends and interests) and they are confident and clear in their communication. They know what they want and there are no guessing games. But, for me, it isn’t about the age it’s about the connection, that spark, the knowledge that you’re on the same wavelength. And, admittedly, my maturity is forty-nine going on twelve…
But, ladies, whatever life throws at you, never ever think that you’re not good enough or that happiness can’t be found again. But also remember that the key to that happiness isn’t loving someone else, it’s loving yourself. Once you get to know you again, when you’ve embraced who you are and made that wonderful person your best friend, then the magic really happens. And, maybe, after that, a much younger Greek guy will be able to weave a spell around you too!
Will forty-year-old Faye fall for twenty-five-year-old Kostas’s charms in Corfu? Find out in SUMMER EVER AFTER!
