3 Things I’ve Learned a Year After Getting Out of a 3 Year Relationship
After getting out of a three year relationship, I can definitely say that being single again can be a weird transition, but I quickly realized a couple key things over the past year. While any life change can be tough, I feel like I’ve grown so much during my time being on my own and it’s been nothing short of rewarding. Here are three things I’ve learned that may help someone else out:
Even though being single can feel scary after being in a relationship, it’s actually so fulfilling and fun.
When you’re in a relationship for a while, you kind of start to forget what it’s like to live life without someone by your side. Although this made the beginning of the breakup tough, being single has ultimately left me feeling like I’m on cloud nine. I’ve really gained back such a strong sense of independence, and as cheesy as it sounds, it has challenged me to be better, since there’s really no one else to worry about/rely on now but myself. After being in a relationship and seeing what aspects worked well and what didn’t, I feel so much more certain about what I’m looking for in a partner moving forward, which I know will add even more happiness to my life than I already currently have. Also, not going to lie, I definitely had that post-breakup glow-up and got hotter, which never hurts either lol.
You never know who’s around the corner.
One of the best parts about being single is that you can truly do whatever you want and have the opportunity to experience so many new things. When you’re in a relationship, it’s pretty normal to stick to a regular routine with your boyfriend, but this past year, I made a real effort to put myself out there more, and I ended up meeting the coolest people. Although I wasn’t necessarily eager to jump back into a relationship, I was extremely surprised that the majority of guys I had met were checking off all the boxes, even though I can be so picky. Despite the negative rhetoric that often surrounds dating, meeting them made me feel confident that what I’m looking for is actually out there. In the meantime, I can keep working on being my best self because I honestly don’t see the benefit of rushing into anything. I could potentially meet my future husband tomorrow, you just never know!
Be excited about people who are excited about you.
I feel like a major reason why dating can feel so burdensome is because it’s so easy to get caught up in chasing after people who might ultimately just not be that into you. Even though it can initially bruise your ego if things don’t play out the way you hoped with a certain person, the best thing to do is pull back your energy and genuinely focus on yourself. In general, dating is a numbers game, so it’s to be expected that not everyone you go out with is going to be your soulmate. However, the more selective you become with your time and only give chances to the people who are stoked to be pursuing you, the closer you’ll be to finding what you’re looking for. Also, the funniest part is that 9 out of 10 times, when you stop caring about the guy who’s not interested and move on to someone new, that’s when they conveniently come running back. Go figure.