John Green said it best, “we accept the love we think we deserve.”

So, after quite the writing hiatus, I’ve decided to explore the many wonders of self-love.

With Valentine's day quickly approaching, many of the single ladies out there are pondering endlessly about how magical and exciting life in a relationship would be. The hopeless romantic might daydream about candle lit dinners, and rose-petal paths that lead to a delicious assortment of chocolates. They’re getting down on themselves about being lonely on Valentine’s Day. The novelty of having a boyfriend to some girls is a mindset that they immerse themselves in everyday. You go out on weekends to meet new people, make sure your makeup is always in tact, your hair perfectly curled and your outfit on point, but still no boyfriend. You can’t help but wonder what you could possibly be doing wrong. You think you're desirable and you put yourself out there, so what’s missing? I’ve found that most of the time the girls who really want to be in a relationship are the ones who have actually never been in a serious one before. It’s very hard to understand the value of independence until you’ve been in a relationship and you no longer have that personal time with yourself.

Don’t get me wrong; being in a relationship is wonderful. If you’re with the right person who cares about you and truly loves you, than nothing else will seem to matter. But, I can assure you that you won’t find your person until you have a good grasp on your self worth and an understanding for what you truly deserve. I didn’t find my person, until I stopped searching.

You see, I’ve realized that it’s not the effort you put into the hunt for that perfect man that makes the end result worth while, it’s the patience and self respect that you devote to yourself in the time that you spent waiting. Love is one of the most powerful feelings. We can show love to a friend, a family member, our partner, ourselves and even to strangers.

And love is a universal language. Anyone, no matter the country or region, can see and feel the impact of love. Love isn’t always intimate. It can be something as simple as showing a person that you care. We fall in love with others because they love us in the times that we are unable to love ourselves. But love is also complicated and tricky. It’s tough to get the exact type of love that you’re looking for when you have such an intricate and extensive checklist.

So what exactly did John Green mean?

The way we allow our better halves to treat us is at most, a reflection of the way we think we deserve to be treated. So, in the name of John Green, LOVE YOURSELF. Dispose of your “perfect man checklist" and focus on your perfect, happiest self.