One month NC

One month of No Contact today.  Last time I talked to him he criticized me, belittled me and put me down.  He pretty much implied I was sleeping around on him the whole time I was there.  I was beneath him because I'm not in school and that I was never committed to the relationship.  So that was it for me.  I am not perfect but I'm a good person.  I am not lazy I was dedicated to my children and to a bad relationship for too long.  I dealt with a lot of crap over the years but I am not dealing with name calling or being referred as a slut, whore and or stupid and lazy.  He never appreciated me being there.  I jumped into the relationship with no hesitations.  Together we had 5 kids, I helped with bills and paid more than half.  I cleaned house while getting no help from him or the kids while he just skated by drinking and playing games.  I was the one who would be painting the basement while he was gaming.  I fixed the bathroom toilet when it was broke because he couldn't figure it out when he spent 5 minutes looking at it.  The kids have problems?? They would come to me because he would ignore them.  Even if that meant coming to me the next day because I worked 2nd shift.  I've continued writing in my "shit" book that has as many things that's happened over the years along with things he's said that's influenced my life in negative ways.  I've been adding to it as I go.  Including what my kids have been telling me about how he talked to them and how he talked about me behind my back. 
I have bad days when I feel like I am missing a part of myself but I know it's only temporary.  I know that my life is my life and I shouldn't have to plot a course around his life and all the kids anymore but I feel lost.  All I can do is keep working on reading and doing things for myself and hopefully my path will come to me soon.  Not knowing what to do or where to go is more confusing to me than the rubix cube.  
A friend of mine sent this to me the other day and I keep it near by:
Take a deep breath.  And put one foot in front of the other.  You HAD a narrow and rocky path ahead of you.  NOW the path is wide and paved.  There are going to be potholes but you are the one in control.