Maria Shriver on separation from Arnold Schwarzenegger: "It was a bad time" Book "I Am Maria" to be published on April 1
Maria Shriver on separation from Arnold Schwarzenegger: "It was a bad time" Book "I Am Maria" to be published on April 1
Maria Shriver speaks openly about the pain after the separation from Arnold Schwarzenegger
Maria Shriver (69) addresses in her new book the profound psychological wounds that her separation from Arnold Schwarzenegger (77) has left behind in her. To deal with the humiliation caused by his affair, she turned to spiritual helpers such as shamans and clairvoyants, among others.
"It tore my heart apart"
In 2011, Schwarzenegger revealed that he had fathered a child during his marriage to former housekeeper Mildred Baena - Joseph Baena (27), born in 1997.
In her poetry collection "I Am Maria", which will be published on April 1, Shriver provides deep insights into her inner pain and the path of processing. In an excerpt published by the US magazine People, she describes the separation as a "drastic, life-changing blow" that followed a series of heavy losses - including the death of her parents and the end of her role as first lady of California.
"It broke my heart, shook my spirit, and destroyed everything that was left of me," she writes. She describes feelings of sadness, anger, fear and inner emptiness – she has completely lost herself. In a particularly desperate moment, as she sat crying on the floor of a hotel room, she encouraged herself: "Maria, this doesn't have to be the end of you."
Her Path to Healing: Spirituality and Writing
As a result, she embarked on an intense journey of self-discovery. She sought professional help from therapists, talked to spiritual advisors and spent time in a remote monastery. Writing in particular helped her to process the pain.
"I began to write honestly and from the bottom of my heart. In my poems, I found a woman who was afraid of not living up to her family's expectations – a woman who doubted whether she was good enough as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, or journalist."
"I began to write honestly and from the bottom of my heart. In my poems, I found a woman who was afraid of not living up to her family's expectations – a woman who doubted whether she was good enough as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, or journalist."
Schwarzenegger: "It was my biggest mistake"
Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger married in 1986 and had four children together. Their son Christopher (27) was born just a few days before the birth of Joseph.
The official separation took place in 2011, but the divorce was not finalized until ten years later.
The official separation took place in 2011, but the divorce was not finalized until ten years later.
In the Netflix documentary "Arnold" (2023), Schwarzenegger recalls the moment when he confessed the truth to his wife:
"I thought my heart would stop. And then I said, 'Yes, Mary. Joseph is my son.' She was devastated, of course."
"I thought my heart would stop. And then I said, 'Yes, Mary. Joseph is my son.' She was devastated, of course."
Schwarzenegger later called the affair his "biggest mistake" and confessed:
"I caused my family great pain with my misstep. Everyone had to suffer from it – Mary, our children, Joseph, his mother. I will have to live with this guilt for the rest of my life."
Author:Tom Weyerman
Source: Stars/Spot
(Image: imago images/MediaPunch/Dee Cee Carter)
