Not everyone has the same heart as you. And that's okay. You feel strongly and you love deeply. You give pieces of yourself to people that you care for sometimes so much that there's barely anything left to give. You cross oceans and climb mountains for people who most of the time don't deserve it. Carrying a heart that big can hurt. It's better you realize this now because you'll end up heartbroken and disappointed if you even for a second expect the same type of effort in return. This says nothing about them, but everything about you. The sad truth is no matter how much you love and value someone, that doesn't mean they have to love and value you the same.

Sometimes your plans don't work out because God has better ones in mind. It doesn't matter how many times you write it in your planner with your colored pens. It doesn't matter how much you pray to get into that school, to get that job, or to marry that guy. If it isn't meant to be, it will not be. We create these big beautiful pictures of what our life should look like and what the future holds, but those big beautiful pictures hold no weight to the ones God has already painted for us. Proverbs 16:9 says "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Rest in that.

Not all people are meant to stay in your life forever. Did y'all hear me in the back??! Some people enter your life as a lesson, not a lifetime. No matter how many times they tell you they'll never leave.. don't believe them. That's a promise impossible to keep. Learn what you can from them while they're around and appreciate their contribution to that season of your life. Some people can help you write really beautiful chapters in your story, but sometimes that's all they are... just one chapter. When the time comes, let them go and do it gracefully. Don't hold onto things that weren't made to be a part of your happy ending.

Friends and family can break your heart too. Heartbreak is not just confined to a significant other or a romantic relationship. No no no, sometimes the people closest to you can break your heart the most. You'll realize as you get older that a lot of people who are BY your side aren't ON your side. It's gonna hurt you when their true colors are shown and you realize that their "unconditional love" isn't so unconditional, but instead comes with all of these rules and limitations. Prepare your heart for that.

If they wanted to, they would. If they wanted to text you, they would. If they wanted to see you, they would. If they wanted to make it work, they would. Stop making excuses for people who make no effort. Stop justifying their obvious lack of concern for you or your feelings. Reciprocity is what you're looking for and if that's not there... you've got nothing. There's someone out there that won't take hours to respond, who makes seeing you a priority, and who will pursue you in all of the best ways. Chase that person, not the one you have to beg for the attention that you deserve.

Heartbreak is inevitable. But you see, so is love. We spend our whole lives trying to avoid it, we create walls to hide from it, and we put our guards up to protect us from it. And you think you're doing good too, until one day you find yourself staring into the eyes of someone thinking how the hell did I ever live without you? And then you blink, and you're on your bathroom floor crying uncontrollably because he swore he'd never leave and then... he did. He told you he wasn't like the rest of them and then he proved himself wrong. He picked up all of your heart's broken pieces and then shattered it all over again. Do not let the feeling of your heart ripping out of your chest keep you from feeling anything ever again. Don't let the fear of heartbreak keep you from being vulnerable with your heart. It takes a strong heart to love, but it takes an even stronger heart to love again after being hurt.