It's been a long time since I reflected on who I am as a person, and what I both want and need in my person, wherever he may be. This past year, I've gone through many ups and many more downs, and it's brought me to a place in my life where I can now see that I deserve far more than what I thought was so amazing at the time.

I know I'm a strong-willed person who will no longer let anyone stand in my way of happiness. To be myself is the key to becoming whole again. I lost a lot of myself to a person who would never give their full self to me. While he has many qualities I would want in a boyfriend, he has many others that made me very disappointed and sad. I realized that letting that go was the best decision I've ever made, and now I'm taking a heart break.

"Heart Break" is a song by Lady Antebellum in which they sing about being single for the summer and just not worrying about being coupled up. After all the hurt a heart can go through after a breakup and leading to one, it's important to pause and let yourself heal.

I'm still recovering from the hurt he caused me and those wounds may never fully heal. I'm waiting to find the guy who will be everything he wasn't, who will do whatever he can to show me he's never going to break me the way the others have.

I want to learn to trust again because I find it so hard to trust anyone anymore. I also hope to become confident in my own skin more than ever before. I'm no model and I never will be. Someone out there is going to love me as I am, and I won't find him until I love myself just as much as he will.

Don't jump into dating the next guy because he tells you you're pretty. Date yourself before you date anyone else. Go do the things only you love, like going to the beach or going to the mall with your best friend. Spend more time with friends and family. I know everyone moves on at different rates, but don't hurt someone else trying to get over your ex. That is such a low thing to do to anyone.

I know that I need someone who wants to talk to me as much as I want to talk t them. I want someone to go to a concert with, or spend a whole day at the beach. I don't want to change for anyone and I wouldn't want them to change for me. All I can ask for is loyalty and communication that doesn't make me lose faith in this generation.

I'll be taking a heart break this summer. I don't want to be in a relationship unless I know I'm healed and ready to open up again.