“And I realized that some things just don't work that way. Life isn't a fairytale. And the person you fall in love with doesn't always love you back. But that's OK because at the very least it makes you stronger. And brings you to a place where you can fall in love with yourself. And that to me is more important than finding someone that only makes you complete when they are around, It's really about Finding the person that will teach you ALL the lessons you need to know ...so that you feel complete all by yourself." — Bethany Brookbank, "Write Like No One Is Readin"

To the people who gave up on me, thank you.

Had to read that twice? Wasn't what you were expecting? That's OK, and here's why.

Without your constant disapproval and rejection, I wouldn't have learned to find my own voice. I learned who I was, who I wanted to be, and where I wanted to go in life. I chose to begin to follow my own dreams, passions, and desires instead of yours. Thank you for teaching me to fight for myself.

Didn't miss me? Didn't ask me to come back? That's fine. I may have meant nothing to you, but your true colors showed all the lies. Thank you for showing me the difference between truths and lies. Without you, I was free to make my own choices, live my own life and take on any new adventures and opportunities.

Your little to no patience with me pushed me away, guiding me to a place filled with people who surrounded me with encouragement, hope, and belief in my abilities. Thank you for teaching me to believe in my self and accept who I am.

You constantly chose others over me, showing me how little I meant to you. You made me feel worthless and small. Thank you for showing me that I deserve all love and happiness. Thank you for showing me my worth and that I deserve so much better.

You never being there taught me to be OK on my own, to be my own hero and to treat others better than you ever treated me. Thank you for teaching me to depend on myself and define my own life how I wanted to without worrying about your negative opinions.

Thank you for leaving. What you thought was a terribly sad ending was really just the beginning of loving and embracing who I am.

“If you learn to really sit with loneliness and embrace it for the gift that it is…an opportunity to get to know YOU, to learn how strong you really are, to depend on no one but YOU for your happiness…you will realize that a little loneliness goes a LONG way in creating a richer, deeper, more vibrant and colorful YOU." — Mandy Hale, "The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass"