After my heart got broken, I never thought I’d find love again. Not only that, but I was too scared to love or be loved and get my heart shattered for a second time. It doesn’t come easily, but it will eventually come naturally, once you learn how to love again.

After you really get your heart broken, it seems nearly impossible. You can try and try, but no matter how many other boys you date, or how many lips you kiss, somehow, you may still see him in every single one of them. It takes that one special person to finally come along and make you forget. And I couldn’t find him.

I was convinced I’d be alone forever. I was convinced that I destroyed everything I touched. And I was finally starting to accept that. And then he showed up. I have never fallen for someone so hard or so fast like I have with him. He makes my days happier and my life better. He never fails to express his love for me, or tell me how beautiful I am, even if I’m wearing sweatpants, without any makeup. I’ve never had to question my worth with him, because he always tells me how much I mean to him, and that is something that I’ve never had before. In my eyes, he is perfect. He showed me how to love again, and he brought me back to life, after I thought that love was dead and there was nothing worth living for anymore. But he is worth it.

I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m not complaining. He’s everything I ever wanted and needed and I’m always thankful for him. He lights up my life and brings out the best in me, and I don’t even know how to say thank you. Saying ‘thank you’ would not be enough to even express my gratitude.

My heart is now beating his name, and I am finally really as happy as I was pretending to be for so long. With this love, I am not letting go. I’m not giving it up or ruining it like I have with my past.

Here’s a word of advice:

When you love someone, please make sure you love them in every way you possibly can. Sometimes, you see, we often forget how lucky we are to love someone; sometimes we drift apart and no longer adore all the little things we loved so much about them. Sometimes we let all the things they do for us go unnoticed and we become unappreciative. We grow hungry for more and lose sight of what we have, we become ungrateful for who we have and end up taking their love for granted. So if you have someone in your life who may even be the love of your life, please keep them close, please let them know how much you love and appreciate them. Do not make the mistake of taking them for granted as you are making an opportunity for someone who can love them better come in and steal your someone away from you.

Who gives a damn about their first love? Don’t. Give a round of applause to your next love, who taught you that love still exists after you thought it never could again. The best part is that he is helping me find love for myself again. By loving someone, you’re teaching them to love themselves again. I have never felt more confident or happy with myself, and it’s all because of you.

My heart is solely yours, and I’m so glad that you said the same.