My darling,

I know you feel like your world is falling apart right now, but trust me, this too shall pass. Don't let this breakup turn into one that leaves you sad and lonely, crying into a pile of sweatshirts. Don't be the girl who wakes up to a bottle of white wine getting warm on the bedside table. If you get there, do not worry, we have all been there, brush it off. The most important piece of advice...do not let this ruin you.

You need to remember that the most important person during this period of heartbreak is yourself. You need to show yourself the love that you deserve. Maybe there is something that transpired during the relationship or something that you said in the arguments leading up to the separations for which you feel guilty; let those go. You need to treat yourself with the patience to move forward; you need to recognize that living doesn't need to stop just because this relationship did.

Sometimes, breakups can be blessings in disguise. This time spent alone is perfect time for you to self-reflect, be mindful, and realize the things that are important to YOU. Take this time to focus on your schoolwork and your eventual career. Do you remember what it was that made you happy before you met him? Do you remember when you loved to paint, or when you would watch the same movie a thousand times just because it made you smile? Do that again. Or you know what...find a new hobby. Maybe you wanted to get into hiking, see those beautiful views, maybe you should start working out, increase your mental health, get closer with God. Whatever you need, take it; now is the time to be selfish.

Now, I know you don't want to do it, but once you start feeling better, you should at least take the time to recognize what did go wrong. If you don't know where you came from, you won't know where you're going? Everything that is worth anything is difficult; the things that truly matter in life do not come so easy. I encourage you to truly reflect on the things that went wrong, especially the things that you did wrong. I urge you to address these characters flaws the same way that you would help a friend address theirs. It's a difficult things to do, but believe me, once you do it, you'll start noticing exponential growth in yourself. That's what all of this is about, this whole life, becoming the best version of yourself you can possibly be through learning and growth from experiences and mistakes.

So, there you go, my love. I am sorry that your heart is breaking, I am sorry if my words aren't the most helpful right now. Save this message, maybe it will come in handy one day. Know that I will do my best to always greet you with warmth and understanding. I am so thankful that you trust me enough to come to me for these things. Take it one day at a time.

Chin up, buttercup,

Athena Vlamis