First of all, I know this sounds like the typical "broken heart" type of article. But, reader beware; it is not.

WARNING: I have had years to get over this, so if you've just been part of a fresh breakup, maybe wait a while to read what follows.

I know a thank you may sound strange, but couldn’t we use a different perspective in between all the hate and shade thrown at our exes? At the time, it was such a big loss for me I wasn't sure I would ever recover, but in reality, I gained so much more.

First off, I want to thank you for loving me. You taught me what it was to be loved and to love right back. For the first time in my life, I felt really alive. My senses were enhanced, my stomach was over the brim with butterflies, and a goofy grin was plastered on my face.

Thank you for making my awkward teen years a little easier. You loved me with braces and without. When my face was oily and when I had yet to find a fashion sense. When I had two left feet and couldn’t figure out how to slow dance at prom. You filled my long high school days with flirty text messages and love notes and that made all the difference.

Thank you for not making our relationship all about technology. Long gone are the days where we actually write love letters to our significant other, but even millennials can utilize paper and a pen every once in a while.

You gave me something to hold on to in this world of fast-paced multimedia. All too often, we see 100-plus likes on a Facebook relationship status that mysteriously disappears a week later. Thank you for letting our relationship have a filter outside of Instagram.

But most importantly, thank you for breaking my heart. I am eternally grateful that you broke up with me because we genuinely weren’t right for each other. (I mean, how often do we end up with our high school sweethearts? But MAJOR props to those who did.)

You led me to my best friend. You led me to the man I’m in love with and couldn’t imagine a day without. Not in a snarky way, but really. I mean, if I hadn’t loved before him, I don’t know if I would feel the way I do now. Learning to love is both trial and error, and I’m glad we tried it first.

I hope one day you find the same thing, if you haven’t already. God bless the broken road, right?