Thank You, Next.
Thank You, Next.

Domestic Abuse Recovery Journal

Jennifer Mixon reflects on dating after a second divorce, taking a break from alcohol, and learning to enjoy a quiet, single life. She shares how healing relationships, therapy, and a shift in values have changed who she’s drawn to and what she’s no longer willing to accept.

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17:46•7 Jun 2026

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Thank You, Next: Dating Sober, Healing, and Happily Single (For Now)

Episode Overview

Press pause on dating and focus on feeling fully comfortable in your own skin before seeking a new partner.
Be wary of partners who are obsessed with fitness, dieting, and body image if that clashes with your recovery and values.
Experiment with a 'dry phone' and limited male attention to break patterns of seeking constant external validation.
Treat past relationships, even painful ones, as learning experiences that clarify what you want and what you don’t want.
Seek and value relationships with genuinely supportive people who model unconditional love and healthier dynamics.

“"You have to learn to be happy alone before you can fully be happy with somebody."”

What are the common struggles and victories in addiction and relationship recovery? This candid chat follows Jennifer Mixon as she sips her Sunday coffee in Sacramento and talks through life after divorce number two, dating apps, and what a “thank you, next” mindset looks like in real time. Jennifer shares how, at 36, she's approaching dating very differently than she did after her first divorce at 28.

She’s upfront about being “in recovery from an eating disorder” and explains why people who are “overly obsessed with nutrition and fitness” now send her running in the opposite direction. Gym selfies and body-obsessed social media? "No, thank you." For her, it’s a clear sign that their lifestyle and self-talk won’t match the calmer, kinder way she treats herself today. The heart of this episode is about being genuinely comfortable alone.

Jennifer talks about taking a real break from dating, embracing a “dry phone”, and even taking a break from drinking so she can, as she puts it, “really, really be in my own thoughts with no alteration at all.” She challenges anyone who feels panicked by a quiet phone to head back to therapy and work on being happy in their own company.

She also shares the deeply healing role of her godmother Natalie, who offered unconditional love, childcare, and a safe home while Jennifer left an abusive relationship and went through nursing school. Their shared journey out of narcissistic relationships shows how support and self-work can change life paths. Jennifer doesn’t pretend every relationship has been a waste because it ended.

Instead, she treats them as lessons that helped her define “what I want and what I don't want,” and she’s clear: "Protect yourself… but if you experience something and it ends, whatever, it's just part of the journey." If you’re post-breakup, questioning your patterns, or flirting with the idea of a dry phone, this one might get you thinking about what you’re really saying yes to.

So, what would it look like if your next relationship had to feel as peaceful as your own company?

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