A few months have passed since my breakup and I’m becoming quite the optimistic. I relapse sometimes and struggle to let go of what was one of the most comfortable and familiar parts of my life, but the positives are constantly being revealed and I’m starting to accept them.
Although my heart and mind had me convinced, my world did not end. I believed that I wouldn’t be able to pull myself together enough to move forward. This thing put me on pause for sure, but I’m not wired to stop. There’s too much work to do. In the wise words of Big K.R.I.T.:
“Shit, I’m too fly to be touched, too hard to be crushed.”
My inner cheerleader is working overtime right now to keep me lifted, but that in no way means I’m not allowed to cry, hurt and cry some more. I’m done being hard on myself for not bouncing back as soon as I’m supposed to. I can’t keep internalizing everyone else’s expectations for my healing process.
I know my loved ones mean well when they constantly encourage me to go out and mingle and whatever else a conventional 20-something single does. But when I express my frustrations about figuring out my next move, I’m not always looking for an answer. More than likely, I just need an ear.
I don’t need to be reminded of the myriad online dating sites that are jammed down everyone’s throats as a Band-Aid for the bruised and brokenhearted. I don’t need to be instructed to flock to OkCupid or Tinder or any other app to fix my “situation.” Some good, old-fashioned listening will suffice.
Not every problem has a clear-cut solution.
Society requires us to believe that single people are undesirable and should all be on a mission to be cuffed, but I don’t need to jump on the shallow validation bandwagon.
I’m on the pursuit to find and enjoy the glorious parts of single life. Like not having to give two fucks about what a person I’m romantically involved with is doing when we’re apart. Not concerning myself with another person’s problems and making them my own. Not having conniptions about calls and texts going unreturned.
I lost myself in someone else for years. To the point that living any other way was foreign to me. To the point that change was knocking but I was too resistant to let it in. It’s time to recoup my losses.
Being single has freed up so much of the time, energy and love I have to give. But before I let another guy come into my space and receive those things, they are being funneled straight to me.
And as I move on, everything I choose to do will be done on my time β not a second sooner.
I loved reading this. I commend you and encourage you on your journey back to yourself. I wish I was as smart as you in my twenties. I’m 35 and on the same journey as you. I’m determined not to fall apart when the dreaded Vday arrives this month. I’m proud of you and encouraged by you. Thanks for sharing your insides with us.
This will be my first Valentine’s Day as a single woman and I’m planning to spend it with some close friends. They’re really good at keeping my mind occupied. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Kristi!
I haven’t been in a relationship in years, since I was like 18 or 19 (I am now 25) and it annoys me when people question my singleness as if it’s a disease that I should be trying to fix. Ugh! Girl, I had to holler a loud “amen” when I read this bit: “I don’t need to be reminded of the myriad online dating sites that are jammed down everyone’s throats as a Band-Aid for the bruised and brokenhearted.” Say that. I hope you’re tending to your needs and healing your way, Crissi. :))
Drea | thedreadaily.com
I’m definitely taking it one day at a time but I feel so much better than I did two months ago. Now that I’m embracing my singleness, I’m excited to see what this new chapter has to offer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Drea. π
You’re welcome! π
Inspiring and wise! Thanks for sharing! π
Thanks, Toni!
It’s so easy to lose yourself in a relationship. As women, we love hard. I’m so happy to hear that you’re loving yourself. What a wonderful gift to give yourself. xx!
That’s so true, we do love hard. That just means we should love ourselves even harder. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Emerald!