A Thank You Letter To All Of My Exes

Dear Exes,

Maybe you remember, or maybe not. Maybe you didn’t care enough to ask or just forgot. But one of my guilty pleasures are rom coms. Cue the movie “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and the impetus for this letter.

I feel like you guys usually get a bad rap, but I’m here to let you know that isn’t the intent of this letter. Instead, I’m writing this letter to say thank you. No matter what happened in the past, no matter who broke whose heart. No matter if you were the one who just used me, or didn’t care, or cheated, etc. Without you I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, so again, thank you.

Exes, you taught me a lot about life. How to kiss, how to be brave, how to fight nicely, how to play drinking games, etc. From you, I learned some really important things like “purple lettuce doesn’t taste worse than green lettuce,” that cooking can be fun, and that I need to stop worrying so much. From you I also learned that I was beautiful (inside and out), that I was funny, that I was smarter than I thought, that I could be loved, and that I could really kick butt in certain video games .

You helped me get through some serious struggles: my parent’s divorce, bouts of anxiety and depression, mean girls, and doubts about my future. And you helped me realize the woman I wanted to be and am capable of becoming.

To all of my exes, we’ve had some seriously amazing experiences, adventures, and moments together. All the heartbreak, anger, worry, jealousy (insert whatever other multitude of crazy emotions may have been involved at some point or another because of you) was worth it. Because of you, I am independent, I am strong, I am determined, I am capable, and I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Because of you, I know how to love better and deeper, and I know what I deserve and that I will not compromise to get it.

Although we’re not together anymore (there are a lot of good and valid reasons for that—no, this is not an I want you back letter), I want you to know how much appreciation and love I hold in my heart for each and every one of you. You all taught me so many valuable lessons that I was meant to learn on this crazy wonderful ride we call life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. As we start out this new decade, I want you to know (wherever you are and whatever you are doing) that I wish you nothing but the best. I hope you are living out all of your dreams and that you’ve found someone you love to share those dreams with.

Love,

Your Grateful Ex