There is this stereotype that all breakups are messy. While some of them may be rough at first, eventually people see how much better off they are down the road. People feel as if the pain won't subside, or maybe they think their life is ending, especially if it was a young relationship. This stereotype leads people to fear breakups, or fear the end of something they thought they knew so well.

I've talked to people about their relationships and their breakups over time, but thinking about this topic made me wonder what people would say to their ex if they had the opportunity. So, I asked ten people what they would say if they could talk calmly to their ex one more time. Here are their responses:

1. "The real reason I broke up with you is because you were prohibiting me from where I wanted to go in life."

2. "I'm glad we're still good buddies and honestly being nothing more than friends has made our lives and our friends' lives so much more relaxing. It's nice that we still keep in contact now that I moved away, thanks for being there for me to talk to."

3. "I fell in love with a guy who no longer existed when I broke up with you. I had grown up and matured and you just remained the same. I saw how immature and unmotivated you were and I realized I didn't want that in a guy. We dated for over two years and the last six months were hard because you never realized how turned off I was becoming. It was hard breaking up with you and I feel like a fool for wanting you back at one point, but now I couldn't be happier with where I'm at in life."

4. "Thank you. Thank you for showing me what I don't want in the person I'm going to spend my life with. Thank you for showing me what I need to look for in that person. Thank you for making me stronger. But I don't want anything to do with you anymore."

5. "I hope you're happy, and I hope life treats you well and you find what you're looking for because everyone deserves to be the happiest they can be."

6. "Thank you for putting me through the worst pain I've ever been through, only to be the happiest I've ever been. Living without you was hard at first, until I realized how free I am without you. Have a good life."

7. "I'm thankful for what I learned about myself and what I need in a relationship. I wish you the best in life but you did leave scars that will stay with me for life and into any future relationship."

8. "Thank you. Thank you for ending things with me and allowing me to live my life to its fullest potential. I wouldn't be the happy person I am today if it weren't for that."

9. "I hope you 'find yourself' in front of a moving bus."

10. "You changed who I was throughout the two and a half years we dated and I shrugged it off as me maturing and growing into who I truly was, but I was wrong. You left and broke up with me and thank you for that. It may have ripped me apart at the time, but it has allowed me to become happier than I ever could have imagined."

Why dread the end when it can lead to a more beautiful beginning? Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

We go through relationships and we learn about ourselves and what we really need. No one should ever regret something or someone that once made them smile.