To The Person I Never Even Dated

Thank you for showing me what love doesn’t look like. Thank you for proving to me that love isn’t supposed to make you anxious. Love isn’t supposed to make you second-guess your actions or doubt your worth. Love isn’t supposed to make you feel as if you’re too needy when you’re simply asking for the bare minimum. Thank you for showing me that love isn’t what you gave me.

Thank you for showing me what it means to put my needs first. Thank you for making me realize what it really means to love myself. Self-love is about doing that fills me with joy and warmth. Self-love is about saying no to something I don’t want to and not doing things just to please you. Self-love is about speaking up about something that bothers me, even if that means disrupting the peace. Self-love is about being brave enough to ask for my needs to be met.

Thank you for showing me the importance of releasing all that does not serve me. Thank you for showing me how to let go of anyone who does not bring me joy, kindness, or warmth, who does not make me feel safe and secure, who does not love me in the way I deserve to be loved.

Thank you for allowing me to create space for myself and for someone new to come into my life and offer me the love and respect and devotion I want, need, and deserve.