oh, you're going to end up forever alone too?

If I got a dollar every time someone said, "I'm going to end up forever alone." I wouldn't be twelve thousand dollars in debt with student loans. Maybe it's because the summer is coming up and I've heard people like to be single in the summer and find a cuddle buddy for the winter. Whenever my girlfriends and I get together, it's definitely a subject that always comes up. We as how Amy has kept her relationship since grade 11, how Jane and Lucy are doing after their respected nasty breakups, how Alex has commitment issues even with the boys lined up outside her house and how I'm moving on from a recent breakup.

I've learned a lot about love, relationships, breakups, heartache etc., the three most important things I've learned are:

Schedule time to mope. After my breakup, I was told to keep myself busy - I found myself working sixty hour weeks, living off coffee and timbits. It was great for the three weeks as work consumed my life, but the repercussions after my life went back to normal were horrible. Keeping myself busy with work didn't help me get over anything, it just numbed my emotions and kept me from dealing with my emotions. I crashed when life went back to normal, it was as though a big truck of emotions hit me 100km/hr. Just like how we're taught to confront our problems, I had to confront my emotions. I was angry, sad, disappointed, upset, confused, happy and eighty other emotions during a span of a couple days. It may be a cliche, but my girlfriends came over and threw me a pity party. We drank wine, ate ice cream, watched chick flicks and cried. Breakups suck, but it's not the end of the world. Have yourself a pity party, cry your eyes out, confront your emotions and get over it. Confront your emotions, they'll catch up with you - or even worse, they'll destroy future relationships. 

Ice cream straight out of the carton? Don't mind if I do! - WHISTLER 2012

A relationship is an experience. We've all had our fair share of amazing relationships, boring relationships, absolutely horrid relationships and everything in between. Everyone should be able to walk away from relationships learning something - hopefully. Lucy learned to never date anyone you meet at a club, Jane learned that she deserves to cherished and Vida learned timing is everything. I probably learned more about what I want in a relationship and  grew more as a person from the my bad relationship than the amazing relationships. I have a better understanding of how much work is needed in to make a relationship successful, how my moodiness affects a relationship and what I need from my counterpart in a relationship. No matter what experience you have, you'll be that much closer to knowing, finding and having the best relationship possible.

It's always a good time when it's a night out with the girls. SUMMER 2012

Focus on yourself. The media and propaganda has led us to believe that every woman needs a man to complete their lives. This has been a social norm for as long as I can remember - luckily the world is starting to accept the fact that women are gaining power in society. Nothing is more attractive than an independent, confident man or woman. I'm not saying you have to be at the height of your career, making X amount of money a year, drive a luxury car and have a house on the British Properties; but if you're a positive person who is confident in the person you are, excited for where you're going and appreciate those around you, it's a major turn on! You can't bring happiness or make someone else happy if you aren't happy with yourself.

Heartache is inevitable, but how you deal with it, how you use it and how you learn from it is what's going to help you grow. When you find that person that you want to spend the rest of your life with because of all the dorky jokes you laugh at together, all the places you visit together and all the memories you create together; all the heartache in the world will be well worth it. It may take time, but have faith you'll find this person - because you damn well deserve nothing but the best. 

What are your thoughts on love, breakups and relationships? Do you believe in love at first site? Do you believe in soulmates? Leave a comment!