After my divorce from Ben, we maintained a good friendship and co-parented our two kids. Recently, he introduced me to his new girlfriend, Lisa, during our eldest child’s birthday dinner. Lisa was friendly, but I noticed how attentive she was to Ben—something I never experienced during our marriage.

Later, Lisa texted me, asking if Ben’s forgetfulness about special occasions was something he could change. I responded honestly, saying, “It’s something you’ll have to figure out together.”

Months later, Ben called, frustrated that Lisa left him over his indifference to anniversaries. I told him, “That’s why we divorced. You have to meet people halfway.”

Lisa and I ran into each other after their breakup. She admitted, “I couldn’t deal with feeling unimportant.” I encouraged her, saying, “You deserve someone who will value you.”

Reflecting on everything, I realized that true love involves being valued and appreciated, something I learned after my marriage ended.