I am a firm believer that in order to be happy in a relationship, you first have to be happy with yourself. If you're not happy with life and where you are, I do not think that you should be with someone else. I have been in that position before. Actually, all my past relationships have been when I was unhappy with myself. When you're not happy with yourself–when you're so down and upset–that will just bring down those around you. Finding comfort in someone else is only damaging to yourself.

In my case, I was unhappy–for years. I remember being in eighth grade and hating myself, thinking I wasn't worth anything. I continued feeling that way and continued to date guy after guy after guy. I was so unhappy and down. I let everyone use me, walk all over me, and treat me like dirt. It wasn't until I hit my all-time low that things changed. I was ready to end it all. I didn't know why nobody wanted me or why I wasn't loved or happy.

It wasn't until then that I made a difference. It wasn't until then that I put myself first and did what made me happy. It wasn't until then that I decided my life had to be worth something to at least someone. And at that point, I started getting happy. I was enjoying my life. Don't get me wrong, I still had some hard times. But I didn't want to die.

That's when it happened. That's when I met the guy I am with right now–the man of my dreams. It wasn't until I was in a better mindset and actually happy that I was able to form a relationship with someone. It actually works. I'm with someone who treats me like gold and then some, but that didn't happen until I was happy with myself inside and out.