How to discuss past divorce with new matches?

I am a 33year old professional female with MBA who just joined EH for the second time, and I’m nervous about how to discuss my divorce with potential matches. I loved being married, being a wife, and raising our son together. Out of the blue, my husband up and walked out two years ago after five years of marriage. We tried marriage counseling, etc, but we ended up getting an amicable dissolution and are committed to raising our son together. (Sidenote: He did not want the responsibility of marriage anymore). I have a hangup in being divorced because (I feel) it implies I don’t value marriage, traditional values, etc, but that is simply not the case! I am the first one in my family/circle of friends to get a divorce. I know divorce is common in the “world”, but I never thought it would happen to me. I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, and with the support of my loved ones continue to believe that there is an amazing partner for me.

My question is: How do I answer questions about this on a date? I have gone on dates before, and inevitably, the topic comes up, and I don’t know if saying “He left me” sounds like I’m damaged goods or something? But, saying “it was mutual” is a lie. The truth is – I didn’t want to be married to someone who didn’t want to be married. What is the best way to approach this topic? Also, in one of the dating books I read, (From Ex to Next) the male author advises against saying “He left” because it makes me sound weak – lol.

There are a lot of people do actually feel comparing divorce stories is a sort of "bonding" experience.......However, once people move on from that shared experience ....do they have anything in common other than.... "you're better than my ex was"?

There are a lot of people do actually feel comparing divorce stories is a sort of "bonding" experience.......However, once people move on from that shared experience ....do they have anything in common other than.... "you're better than my ex was"?

I know where she came from, I know how she picked herself up from it, her ability to be self aware and discover her mistakes. I know what her deal breakers are due to the divorce, and I know her ease in sharing about herself.
And most importantly I know she was cheated on, which means I know where her fears lie.

A coma patient is better than my ex was.. not everything is so simple cut and dry pieces of information.

It's wonderful if this sharing works for both of you, and clearly it made her feel better to unload. It certainly sounds like she is into you. That's great. I hold no bitterness or remorse for a relationship that ended after twenty years. I think my ex is a fabulous guy (for someone else) but I have no desire to postmortem the demise.

My point. Few people can be objective. I still stand firm in my position that most people's side of the story is tainted. We all tell our story how we see it, and somewhere in between lies the truth. My former husband would give you a completely different version of events than I would. And would the response really make or break whether you continue to see this person again... unless he/she said they cheated, were an alcoholic or an abuser.. . and few will tell you that.