I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say, “People don’t change,” “If he hurt you once, he’ll hurt you again,” “Never believe in second chances,” “There’s a reason why it didn’t work out the first time," the list goes on and on. But who is to say that you shouldn’t get a second chance in life? I’m certainly not going to tell anyone that. People do change, second chances exist, and although everything happens for a reason, that reason doesn’t always have to be unforgivable!
Ever since the first time my boyfriend and I broke up and got back together, people have talked. “They’re just going to break up again,” “Oh they’re back together,” “It’ll never work out.” Well let me tell you something about relationships. When you start dating someone at a young age, it’s almost impossible to tell what you want in life. Do you want a serious relationship in high school? Do you actually see yourself spending the rest of your life with this person? Do you have any idea what love actually is? Maybe you do and maybe you don’t. Either way, it’s okay to change your mind a few times before deciding what you truly want for yourself.
People change a lot as they grow up and mature. When I first started dating my boyfriend, I was 13 years old. We were crazy, controlling, and utterly obsessed with each other. It was not a healthy relationship, but we were in junior high when it all started. It took a few times for us to get things right, but that's okay. High school is a time for growing, learning, and figuring out who you are. You’re not always going to get things right on the first try. Sometimes the timing might be wrong, or you just might not be mature enough to carry on a healthy relationship. But no matter what, if you two love each other, there’s no reason why you can’t try again.
No one knows your relationship like you and your partner, not even your best friend that you tell everything to. So don’t let anyone else try to tell you whether it’s going to work or not. If I didn’t see a future with my boyfriend, I never would have given him all those chances. But now, 6 years later, I’m so glad I did. Our relationship took time and effort. We both needed some breaks to grow up and experience life on our own. But when the timing was finally there, we got it right and I’ve never been happier.
If you think someone deserves a second chance, then give them one. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of people don’t deserve one. At least maybe not from you. But (almost) everyone should be allowed one do-over in life, because how are you supposed to turn your life around for the better if you aren’t given the opportunity to? I am a heavy believer in second chances. Everyone makes mistakes and I don’t like to judge people for theirs when I know that I make them too. A little bit of forgiveness can go a long way.
