If you have recently ended a long term relationship, like living with someone or you have ended a marriage and you are now single, then welcome to the dating world. Gently ease yourself into dating when your heart has healed and found peace. Do not let your past ruin your future. Whatever happened in your past relationship, good or bad, it is in the past and you must learn to take both good and bad and make something positive out of it.

Your expectations and rose colored image of love were destroyed, but now it is time to really see how relationships work. Dating now can be overwhelming because now there are so many apps that cater to single people and social media sites to start dating, but you may not be ready. Not until you have freed yourself from the last relationship.

I am the old fashion believer that dating should start from face to face contact with someone. When you are ready then you should put yourself out there and be available. Maybe you will meet the one or just start dating, but it will happen on its own.

Going through a major break up and life change should not discourage you from believing in love. You can learn from the past and be someone else's everything. Just because it did not work out with someone does not mean that we are not valuable to others. It just means that you need to find someone who has the same expectations in a relationship and that will love you for who you truly are.

This time around you will think what you have in common, and long-term relationship goals. You will know what you are looking for in your future partner.

Let love come to you and when you least expect it, it will. First, you must be comfortable with being on your own. You have to enjoy yourself, and focus on your own goals. Then, someone who is similar will be attracted to you.

Our idea of what love that we had once has drastically changed. Obviously, the first love that was experienced was not what we were hoping or looking for.

The next time love comes around appreciate and nurture it. This new love will change your perspective on life, and it will surprise you by how far it surpasses the old love.

This new partner can be nothing like you imagined and this person might be nothing like you dreamed of, and even better. Maybe it can all start in the coffee shop until then keep on believing in the power of love.