For as long as I can remember, everyone has said, "when you love someone, when you really love them Rebecca, you work things out, no matter how hard it gets".

I disagree. 100%.

When you love someone, you don't need to be hurt, you don't need to be put through hell.

It's not your job to protect yourself form the person you love, because if it were true love, they wouldn't do that thing that hurt you. If it were true love the most they could hurt you was through a misunderstanding or wrong wording. If it's true love you shouldn't have to argue that he hit you because he was upset, or she cheated because she felt unloved. You shouldn't argue that love is stronger than the physically abuse, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, and/or neglect that your supposed loved one showers on you.

You shouldn't have to fight for love with someone who doesn't love you back.

"When you really love someone, and they really love you, and you're healthy, is when you should work things out" not before, not for any other reason.

I've spent far too much of my emotional and physically being under someone else's thumb. I've spent too much time and effort on someone who hasn't shown me that they're worth the effort.

I know it may sound mean, but you have to draw a line somewhere.

God didn't intend you to be abused in order to be loved. He did not intend that you sell your soul for the happiness of another, yet you must love to the best of your ability. I know this seems like a rant, and like I'm being selfish. But I'm not. I know what it feels like to love someone with every possible ounce of soul, heart, being, body, and mind that you can muster. And I know what it's like to find out that they've cheated even after that, that they still want to hit you, they still want more from you. But what more can you give when you've given everything including your own self-love.

I've written on self-love before. And I've made a choice to pursue self-love relentlessly. And now, I challenge you, don't only love yourself, but find someone who you can love, because they love you. Find someone you honor, because they honor you. Someone you respect, because they respect you. Don't settle because you think you're deserving of less. I promise, you desreve the world and all its happiness.

"We accept the love we think we deserve" - Stephen Chbosky