Key points

Divorced adults often express relief and even joy at their new freedom and self-discovery.

Living alone as people age comes with new challenges, including safety risks.

To protect and strengthen a marriage, each partner can give the other space to grow.

When a marriage ends after decades, the ripple effects can surprise everyone—including the couple themselves. ‘Gray divorce’—the breakup of marriages in later life—is on the rise. But is it all loneliness and heartbreak, or is there more to the story? Here are three surprising lessons you can learn from this growing trend—whether you’re an adult child, a partner, or simply curious about the future of love.

1. Your Parents May Not Be As Lonely As You Think

According to new research by Koren et al. (2025), adult children

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