Lately, I've been seeing friends on Facebook and Instagram announcing that they are in a relationship or engaged. Being me, I'm excited for them and I'm a little down about it too. Growing up I planned out everything and I knew how I wanted everything to go. I wanted to be dating the love of my life at the age of 16 and then he would ask me to marry him at the age of 20 and we would have our wedding the fall after I turned 21.

Then about 2-3 years later we would welcome our first child and we would live in a cute 2 story house with a wrap around porch. All that was a dream and it never really turned into my reality.

In reality, I don't have all that. My 20th birthday is in about 9 days and I'm sitting here as single as you can get but, I'm happy. I do have a dog so I guess you can say that I am doing something right in life. I have a family that loves me and friends that make me happy.

Planning everything out can end up depressing because you think that something is going to happen then, in reality, it never does. When I was 16 I dated a guy that I "thought" I wanted to marry but, that relationship taught me that no all relationships will be the relationship that you should fight for. Then when I was 17 I was in a relationship and that relationship wasn't something that could have ended up being something that would last.

Through my relationships and being single for almost 2 years, it has taught me to grow. I remember going through my first breakup and I was heartbroken but, I had a friend tell me that my puzzle isn't finished yet and yes my ex-was a part of my puzzle pieces, he wasn't the last one. The only person that knows what my puzzle looks like finished is Jesus and he's handing me pieces as I go.

Now going back to my friends, I am super happy for them. But, they are just in different seasons of their life than I am. Everyone is going through different seasons and its okay if you aren't in the same season as your best friend. If everyone was in the same season at the same time, how would we learn anything?

We wouldn't be able to talk to someone about what we are going through because they would be going through the same thing. The best thing to do is to rely on Jesus and trust him in helping you put your puzzle together because once its put all together you can step back and be grateful for what you have.

The waiting game stinks and no one wants to wait but, in reality, the waiting can be the best thing for you. You can learn life lessons and you can become a better person. Then when the waiting stops and you get the outcome of it, you will appreciate it even more. Now, all you need to do is wait.