Who says a couple can’t break up and still get along?
Even if that break up involves on person pulling out a gun and the other person later dating a mutual friend?
Approximately one year ago, Christina and Tarek El Moussa announced their split.
It was a surprising confirmation for HGTV viewers that had spent the past few years watching Christina and Tarek successful renovate homes on Flip or Flop.
The couple share two little kids and at least appeared to get along pretty well on screen.
But we learned shortly after their separation that all was not perfect.
In fact, Tarek actually stormed off into the woods with a gun in the spring of 2016 after he and his wife got into a serious argument.
Concerned for Tarek’s safety, Christina called the police.
All was eventually sorted out (Tarek said he wanted the gun to keep wild animals away); no charges were filed; but the marriage was basically over.
In their statement announcing as much, Christina and Tarek assured fans that they would remain friends and that raising their two young kids would be a priority.
It’s the same things all famous people say when they go their separate ways.
But the El Moussas actually meant it!
Neither side has bad-mouthed the other over the past several months, even after Christina dated family contractor Gary Anderson for a bit.
And they are co-parenting their son and daughter like champs.
To make the anniversary of their public split, both sides of this ex-couple wrote something important on Instagram.
“You do not get to choose the events that come your way nor the sorrows that interrupt your life,” reads an excerpt from the pastor David Crosby’s book Your Pain is Changing You, shared by Christina.
“They will likely be a surprise to you, catching you off guard and unprepared.
“You may hold your head in your hands and lament your weak condition and wonder what you ought to do.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Christina wrote alongside the message above, which also includes the words:
To suffer, that is common to all. To suffer and still keep your composure, your faith, and your smile, that is remarkable.
She used the hashtag “#KeeptheFaith,” as well.
Tarek, meanwhile, posted a quote from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
It reads:
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
This is a reference to how the beloved author was famously way down on her luck before selling her first Harry Potter book.
Tarek, for his part, has now overcome two different cancer diagnoses, as well as this divorce.
“This quote really stood out to me,” Tarek told his followers, adding:
“We’ve all faced obstacles and for many they were so horrific they hit the lowest point of their life with no future in sight….when you are at the bottom you feel nothing but pain, misery and despair.”
He concluded:
“Even though you can’t see the light at the bottom it still exists and as time goes on that light starts to shine.
“Once that light starts to shine take the opportunity to reevaluate who you are and what you want to be. Take it as an opportunity to bounce back and be stronger than ever.
“In my opinion, rock bottom is an opportunity to start over and do it right!”
We all could learn a lot from Tarek and Christina El Moussa, which is a sentiment we never imagined we’d express a year ago.
