Everyone from the beginning of time has been experiencing heartbreak, and ever since then, it has always sucked. It is never pleasant, and no matter how many times you experience it, it never gets any better (no matter what people tell you). The second or third time may not sting as worse as the first time, but it still stings nonetheless.

I experienced my first real heartbreak this past year, and I do not know if I have ever felt anything quite as painful. Yes, I had boyfriends before, but, to go along with the cliché, he was "different." He made me feel different, I felt different when I was with him—and that was exciting. I had never cared for anyone in quite the same way I had cared about him. One can imagine my surprise when he comes to me and tells me that he thinks it best if we break-up.

I understand why people call it a "break-up" now. When you care about someone with all of your being, and you share so fully of yourself with this other person and they throw it all away, you feel your heart breaking up into a million pieces. It hurts when you learn that someone you cared so deeply about decides that he or she no longer feels the same way.

I was convinced that remaining bitter would make the pain go away. If I just blamed him, bad-mouthed him and hated him, everything would be okay. Unfortunately, this did not resolve anything; it only made it worse. Those memories, however, remained, just as strong and poignant as ever.

I discovered that "hating my ex" only made me hate myself. I did not want to hate anyone, especially not someone I had cared so deeply about. Was I upset that he left me? Sure (especially because I am pretty dang awesome). Do I want him to suffer? Of course not. I want him to be happy. If that happiness is not going to come from me, then so be it.

Wishing someone to be miserable is only going to make you miserable. You can pick up those scattered pieces by realizing that, even if that person did not work out, the sun is going to come up tomorrow morning and your life will continue. It sucks but it will not last forever (no matter how much it seems like it will).

Having your heart broken is never easy, but there is a lot to be said about the person that can work through it and bounce back. For example, it taught me how to put on a brave face and take on the world even while I would much rather have preferred locking myself in the bathroom and sitting on the floor of the shower, crying. It forced me to be conscious of my own emotional state, after having devoted so much of my energy to worrying about someone else's. It made me stronger.

Everyone always daydreams about the "what if's;" What if we stay together? What if we are meant to be together? We can't help it because we are human and most of us like to think in the long term. When those what-if dreams get popped, it causes that dreaded heartbreak because you know that person never dreamt about those possibilities. You cannot let the idea of what could have been keep you bitter. Be thankful for the time spent with that person and for the good received out of the relationship. Be proud of who you are as a person and do not let your past dictate your future.