Okay, in the moment, heartbreak is the worst feeling in the world, but in retrospect, it comes with a lot of benefits. And no, I'm not suggesting that you should strive to find someone who will treat you like royalty and then suddenly drop you for no reason, but heartbreak is inevitable, especially when you're young. So, while you spend your nights thinking about why he/she doesn't want you, just remember that it's all just a huge, essential learning experience. And it's absolutely okay to cry.

My freshman year of high school, I thought I was in love. A boy finally gave me attention after I had been made fun of all my life by other boys for being too skinny or too ugly or too weird. I wanted to be called pretty; I wanted someone to like me for my quirks; I wanted to be wanted, and he gave me all those things. Now, let's fast forward six or seven months into the future when he took back all those things. I wasn't pretty anymore, I was weird again, and I wasn't wanted... at least that's how he made me feel. And with all that in my head, I found myself hysterically crying in my twin-sized bed under my bubble gum pink comforter at 2 a.m., trying to keep quiet so my parents wouldn't hear, wondering what I did to make him not want me anymore. And I dwelled on this for weeks, maybe even months.

At the time, he made me feel like I was inadequate; like I was useless. It was my fault, I kept thinking. Here's what future-me realized: it wasn't my fault; I didn't do anything wrong. Relationships end, and that's just how the world works. And, yes, it's that black-and-white.

Now look, four years later and I'm over it. Actually, a few months later I was over it. I didn't die, the world didn't end. And hey, I found love again, even when I swore I would never find anyone that could ever compare to him. And it was a better kind of love, too! I even met a few more people who were able to make me happy, all while I'm able to make myself happy.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that it's okay to get your heart broken. In fact, it's actually kind of a good thing. From that experience, I learned that I don't need anyone else to make me happy; I learned how to make myself happy. I learned that (o bladi, o blada) life goes on!

There are so many amazing different people you get to meet in this lifetime, so why dwell on one person who decided to move on? There's no need to be bitter, just make yourself better instead. If anything, thank that person, (maybe not upfront; spiritually or subliminally will do the job just fine), for introducing you to the concepts of forgiveness and self-love.

Maybe this isn't much of an explanation of why heartbreak is good, but actually a past-due thank you note to my ex for breaking my heart. I couldn't have come to the realization of self-love and forgiveness without you.