Some people's parents divorce before they are able to understand what a real, healthy relationship should look like. I wasn't one of the unlucky ones, though. I grew up watching my parents love each other every day until I was 18. I learned more about myself and more about love while watching my parents fall out of it than I ever did when they were in it.

1. Even forever doesn't mean forever.

You write your vows, you promise to keep them until death and yet somehow, somewhere down the road those vows lose their meaning. When you're screaming at each other in the hallway, "until death do us part" doesn't mean the same thing that it did 21 years ago in that church. No matter how long you expect to stay with someone, nothing ever lasts forever. But, I've realized that is okay.

2. People change, it's inevitable.

You can't expect the person you married in 1993 to be the same exact person in 2017. Life throws you curveballs, and sometimes you're forced to change in order to catch them. Sometimes change is a good thing; sometimes it's not. But no matter what, no one stays the same forever. You can't expect someone not to change.

3. Lying to spare someone's feelings is worse than telling the harsh truth.

You might think that what you're about to tell somebody will break their heart, but lying to protect them will only hurt them more in the end. Rip off the band-aid, tell them the truth and deal with the repercussions.

4. Staying with someone because it's the "right thing to do," not because you love them, is not the right thing to do.

I have heard so many people say that they think their parents are still together only for the sake of their children, and I've even overheard adults say those same words. It breaks my heart to watch two people who don't love each other anymore stay in a relationship that they don't want to be in when they could be out in the world finding their true soulmate. Divorce is tough, it's messy, but it's better than your kids growing up with a false truth of what a healthy marriage is.

5. Independence is so important.

It's hard to admit, but no one is completely dependable. People will always let you down - it's life. When the person you've always counted on leaves, you need to know how to pick up where they left off. Independence means that if it comes down to it, you know how to get through life on your own, and that is such an important trait to have.

6. People can get divorced and still love each other.

Loving someone isn't the same as being in love with them. You can get divorced because you've fallen out of love, but you can still love your ex-husband because you spent 25 years of your life with him. You're not doing something wrong if you don't hate your ex after your divorce; in my opinion, you're doing something right.

7. Marriage isn't a heartbreak waiting to happen.

I know a lot of children of divorce have skewed views on love and marriage after watching their parents fail at it. Just because one marriage didn't work out, doesn't mean yours won't. It also doesn't mean that you're not worthy of a happy, healthy, forever relationship, either. You have a perfectly good heart; don't be skeptical of letting it fall in love with somebody. Not all marriages end in divorce.