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8 Small Things That Made A Big Difference In This Writer's Divorce

"Anyone who says you can’t outrun your troubles has never laced up her kicks and hit the trails."
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Senior Lifestyle Reporter, HuffPost

lzf via Getty Images

If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com.

What helped writer K.C. Wilder start over when her marriage ended in 2014 and life as she knew it "imploded"? An epic road trip to the Pacific Northwest, watching Uma Thurman kick ass and take names, and running local trails as a form of therapy.

Below, Wilder, the author of the chick-lit novel Fifty Ways to Leave Your Husband, shares a list of things that helped her move on post-split.

The Book
K.C. Wilder
"I hate to sound like a divorce cliché, but the book that spoke to me so deeply that I nearly choked on my tears multiple times while reading it was Wild by Cheryl Strayed. And though I did not lace up my hiking boots and walk the entire Pacific Crest Trail solo, I was inspired to take a road trip to the Pacific Northwest that I’d been longing to do. I visited friends from San Francisco to Seattle, savoring the miles of solitude in my rented Mustang convertible, and ultimately finding the place in California I will call home later this month. Here's a pic from that road trip."
The Song
"I feel like I should write a thank-you note to Kate Miller-Heidke. Her song 'Offer It Up' was the lyrical kick in the pants I needed to realize the life I was living was not for me. This line in particular resonated with me: 'I’m sick of turning it down. I’m sick of holding it in. I’m sick of tiptoeing ‘round, quietly bleeding.' There was work I needed to be doing, and love I deserved to experience, and it wasn’t going to happen in my three-year marriage (my ex and I had been together for eight years). These days, I’m turning it up."
The Quote
Marga Frontera via Getty Images
"I think this one speaks for itself."
The Food
MikeLau_/Flickr
"OK, it might be a stretch to call this 'food' but McDonald's McCafé Frappé Mocha got me through my divorce. I don’t think there’s a single thing in it that would count as nutrition, but on the worst of days, when my throat was so constricted that the notion of eating was unbearable, this slushy treat kept me alive. And I became such good friends with the girl who works the drive-through at my local McD’s that we exchanged Christmas gifts."
The Distraction
K.C. Wilder
"Running deserves at least as much credit for getting me through my divorce -- and every other tough time in my life -- as those Mocha Frappes. Anyone who says you can’t outrun your troubles has never laced up her kicks and hit the trails. I have laughed, cried, composed blogs and written books, all while running. And sometimes I have simply given thanks for the ability to put one foot in front of the other and move forward."
The Movie
Lelê Breveglieri/Flickr
"This is where you learn I have a twisted side. I lost count of the number of times I watched 'Kill Bill,' both volumes one and two. There is something about watching Uma Thurman kick ass that just plain soothes me."
The Splurge
Getty Images
"The joke with my friends is that I had PMS and good credit, but that’s only part of the reason I splurged on a BMW. I love driving so much, I’m pretty sure I was a race car driver in a previous life, and this pre-owned baby called to me. Together we have logged countless therapeutic miles on winding back roads -- and the bonus? She actually came with a lower car payment than my last set of wheels."
The Work Of Art
K.C. Wilder
"This print 'Positive Cat' by The Bird Machine was a gift from one of my dearest friends. Clearly, she knows me well. Having a rough day? Wondering how to face the world? Positive Cat says it all."

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