Maria Shriver reveals she's in 'good place' with Arnold Schwarzenegger after divorce: 'I’m really happy'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Maria Shriver is preparing for the release of her first-ever book of poetry, 'I Am Maria', and reflecting on how far she has come in her life.

The 69-year-old author and journalist shares that she is in a "good place" today and content with the life she has built despite the deeply impactful divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Maria Shriver says 'I’ve worked hard at forgiveness'

Maria Shriver has faced immense personal challenges in her mid-50s, including the loss of both parents, Eunice Kennedy Shriver (2009) and Sargent Shriver (2011).

Around the same time, her marriage to Schwarzenegger ended due to his affair and love child.

Over a decade later, Shriver found solace in writing poetry, expressing previously hidden emotions.

Her new book is a collection of personal poems and reflections showcasing her vulnerability as a mother-of-four and grandmother-of-three.

She describes the experience as freeing and says she is in "such a good place" today.

Shriver and Schwarzenegger, who finalized their divorce in 2021, continue to share a strong bond over their children and grandchildren.

Shriver also spoke about the importance of forgiveness. "I’ve worked hard at forgiveness: forgiveness for myself, forgiveness of others," she said. "There’s probably no person in the world that doesn’t need forgiveness," she told People in an interview. 

She further explained, "I don’t need to go into the meaning of forgiveness, but I always take from my faith that there is no person on the planet who doesn’t need forgiveness, so why not practice it on yourself, grant it to others and just keep at it?"

"There is no such thing as a perfect person, as my pastor says every week at church—all of us are sinners and all of us are saints in progress," she said.

Maria Shriver on revisiting difficult times in her poetry

Maria Shriver found it hard to pick a favorite poem from her book but admitted that certain pieces were deeply personal.

"Several of the poems brought up a difficult time in my life, and I feel like I’m in such a good place today," she said.

Elsewhere in the interview, she reflected on her current happiness, saying, "I’m really happy with my life and my work with my children. Arnold and I are in a good place."

"We laugh a lot about our kids, our grandkids, ourselves, and we are proud of the fact that we are still in conversation. For almost 50 years!" she continued. 

Maria Shriver says her grandchildren helped her 'remember how to play again'

For Maria Shriver, being a mother and a grandmother is a "great" joy. "I really enjoy them more than anyone in the world, and my grandchildren have made me remember how to play again, how to be silly again, how to be creative again," she said.

She also spoke about learning from her children, especially during her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s. "I’ve learned a lot watching them deal with my dad when he had Alzheimer’s," Shriver shared.

Beyond that, she noted, "I’ve learned about acceptance and forgiveness and being understanding."

She praised their resilience and their ability to find humor in life. "To me and to their dad, they are extraordinary, and they have a great capacity to laugh at life and make me laugh and not sweat stuff," she said.