In the past few years, I've been hurt a lot. Who hasn't? My mom has always told me not to get involved with boys. Not to let them bring me down. Not to let them make me feel anything less than great. But all of that goes out the window when you catch feelings for someone. All of the sudden, you will do anything and everything for that person. Why? Because love (or lust) makes you do crazy things. It might make you go to the ends of the earth for them. But will they do the same for you? Most of the time...the answer to that is no.

I know myself, and I know that I fall for people fast and hard. This is a really bad thing most of the time. I try really hard to stay away from this and just let things happen but I can never help myself.

I also know that I tend to fall for people who don’t want me. If I’m being honest, most of them are complete assholes. I guess I just like the chase or the fact that I can never have what (or who) I want. And that’s what led to all of the heartbreak that they didn’t even mean to cause me.

To the boy who unintentionally broke my heart, and there are many of you, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for all of the lessons you taught me. I never thought I would come to a point where I could forgive you, but here I am. I am grateful for everything that you have made me realize.

I learned that I should never settle for less than I deserve.

I learned that I am beautiful inside and out, and anyone that can’t see that does not deserve me or my time.

I learned that I don’t need to be anyone else other than me, because if a guy likes me for being someone else, those will never be true feelings.

I learned that I should protect my heart. Giving it to every person that I might have feelings for is a dangerous game. I need to start protecting myself.

I know that you didn’t break my heart on purpose. It’s not like your mission was to hurt me - at least I hope it wasn’t. But I don’t hold that against you, because you didn’t know how deeply I felt. I’m not saying by any stretch of the means that it was okay to act like a total asshole, but that’s just water under the bridge now.

I guess I just want you to know that I am doing okay on my own. I am doing well without you. Because I don’t need a man to define me and who I am. And you know what? That’s pretty empowering stuff. I am good just the way I am.

Actually...I’m great.