This time last year, I was in a relationship that I thought was going to last a long time. I was in a relationship I thought was going to last forever, actually. But then, it didn't. And, for a long time, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to live and I didn't know how to grow and move on. But, almost six months later, I think I finally have the strength to move on.

This relationship was everything I ever wanted... mostly. I was willing to ignore the nagging voice in the back of my head that things didn't feel right, because at other times, they did. I ignored every little thing my body, other people, even he would occasionally tell me because I wanted so badly for it to work. I thought I would be giving up, and I thought I would be missing out on the love of a lifetime if I just "quit." But now, I wish I would have.

I learned that other people have no place in your relationship. It's between two people. Not two people and their friends. Not two people and the girl that doesn't like you and tells him you're a bitch and that he shouldn't date you. Because if it is between more than two people, and your significant other is so willing to listen to things jealous outsiders have to say about you when they know nothing -- it isn't meant to be. No one's opinion should matter but the one you and your significant other have. Naturally, yes, it's good to see things from another outside point of view. But, if that is the sole influence of their decisions, they're more interested in keeping up appearances than they are in you.

I learned that people are extraordinarily good at putting on a show when they want to. They can be everything and more for you, but treat other people with disrespect, or talk poorly about their former relationships. If they say every failed past relationship was the other person's fault entirely, maybe that's a good sign to look at who they are as a person. Maybe it's more of a fault in their own character, because at one time, their former significant other was "everything they ever wanted" as well.

I learned to give second chances, but maybe not third, or fourth, or fifth, or sixth... You get the picture. If they leave once, they'll do it again. When people treat you a certain way, believe them. It doesn't mean you're not good enough, because you are. In fact, it may mean that they are too immature, or self-involved, or just plain mean. Moreover, if they leave the significant other before you, for you -- remember they are capable of doing that again (and they will, trust me).

I learned that if you have a bad feeling about someone else that they are interacting with, it's probably accurate. Go with your gut. You're not crazy. You're not over-involved or obsessed. You're right. You should remember that people lie, and people lie often. If you ever feel uncomfortable about something, and they degrade you for that, they're not the one for you. If they suddenly start spending time with someone else, or talking to someone else, or doing anything else extremely out of the ordinary, you should notice. You should point it out, and not feel bad for doing so. You deserve honesty.

I learned that sometimes other people have no respect for your relationship at all, in general. Those people are not good people. Those people may act like they are. They may pretend like they are sunshine, and roses, and the nicest person on the planet, but you know. They are not good people.

I learned that if they make fun of you for something you enjoy, or refuse to understand it, that's because they don't respect you. If they try to guilt you into or force you to think/say/do things, that's because they don't respect you. If they do anything but treat you with the utmost care and dignity, they don't respect you. Leave them, because you deserve to be treated like the most important thing on Earth to them.

I learned that you cannot hold on to what used to be, because that's not what it is anymore. People change; they are dynamic. This can be a positive thing, but in my case, it was a negative thing. Do not keep assuming things will go back to how they were, because they will not and you do not deserve to have to wait otherwise.

I learned that if they insist on keeping the relationship off of social media, but are quick to announce their newest relationship publicly, you were nothing but something they could use for the time being. You were convenient. You were available. But, they wanted something shiny and new. Do not feel like you should have known otherwise. How could you have known that what you mistook as someone being private with their personal life, as someone pretending they didn't spend every second of every day with you?

I learned that people will say anything in the moment, but pretend they didn't just to avoid obligation. I learned that maybe it's better not to be friends with someone who can't even be mature enough to do that.

I learned that you can give everything to someone, until you feel so empty you just giving more and more and more. You can be everything that person could ever ask for, and they'll still want more. You can tell them you love they, you can tell them how proud you are of them, but they'll acknowledge it only when someone else does it for them. You do not need to feel like you are not enough when they leave. Chances are, they'll do it to the person they left you for, too. Be happy for them, but also feel bad for them, because you know the true nature of the person that they are now again pretending to be.

You are enough. You are intelligent, strong, witty, attractive, creative, talented, and much, much more. If they are so willing to give that up, and then pretend it never happened -- well, you know whose loss it is (hint: not yours).

So, babe, thank you, for tearing me down.

Thank you for making promises to me that you would not keep.

Thank you for embarrassing me, as I spoke so highly of you even when you treated me like trash.

Thank you for everything you ever did -- good, bad, or otherwise.

You taught me a lot about you, but more about myself.

I'm so happy you taught me how to never settle again. I expect great things out of my future -- one that does not include you.