Too many times in the past I had settled for someone who wanted me, just because I didn't want to be alone. That was my first mistake. With many of my past relationships I had been settling, not really sticking to what I deserved. This pattern bit me in the backside when I got involved in a seemingly great relationship gone toxic. It doesn't mean that the person was bad, or that I was a bad person. A toxic relationship is just a mis-connection. It didn't work. We had tried to make it work and it wouldn't. At a point it became going through the motions. He wouldn't hold me at night, he wouldn't even let me hug him anymore. He didn't truly care about anything I had to say. He spent his time, money, and love on material things, instead of the girl in front of him begging to be loved.

Could this be because I had settled? I decided one night that I was done crying after wiping my millionth tear from my eyes. I decided that I wanted to show myself better and I would never look back to the insecure person I once was. Now, I don't settle for anything less than a man who will hold me without a second thought, kiss me as if he had never kissed anyone before. Nothing less than a man who will make me warm soup in bed when I'm sick, nothing less than a man who can own up to his mistakes and his faults, and not use harsh words or degrade me in a conflict or disagreement. Nothing less than a man who can cherish what we have and be romantic with me. I will never again settle for less than what I deserve. I wrote this to remind you too if you are going through or coming out of a toxic relationship, that you deserve better. Take a long hard look at what you want, and ask yourself if you're settling with this person. If you are, don't. A better person will come to you. A better time will come to you. When you answer that question, and you find the answer is yes. I beg you to make a promise to yourself for better, and never look back. A promise you make to yourself is hard to break.