Letters To My Former Single Self

Dear Hallie,

If you would have truly had this letter at 18 I believe your years leading up to meeting "the one you have been waiting for" would have been drastically different, but what kind of life would it be if you didn't learn the hardships of truly knowing nobody can love you, until you truly love yourself.

The one thing I cannot wait to share with you is DO not look back. The one you are wishing would call you or chase after you at this moment in your life, you DO NOT want. He is not what true love is.
He does not respect you.
He does not care about you, in the ways you think he does.
and most importantly "settling" is not only harmful to your relationship, it's incredibly harmful to yourself.

There is a reason you left, and there is a BIG reason life did not push him to follow.

Even while you are getting over the big heartbreak the little lusts will come along. The rules still stand.

Respect yourself
Care for yourself
and don't ever settle.
No one can love you if you don't love yourself.
 

I know there is going to be a time your life that you will hit rock bottom. Life will have seem to given up on you, and you finally feel it is time to give up yourself. You feel alone, your heart hurts in so many ways, and tears may seem never ending, but please always remember this final thing I have to say to you.

Every hardship, every heart break you endure will only make you respect and appreciate "the one you have been waiting for"even more. When you meet him you may think it's too good to be true, but don't turn your back, because you will FINALLY know true love, you will smile that smile you lost, and you will NEVER look back on all those hard times.
If you do look back, it's only to thank god. For allowing you to see that being strong, facing your fears, and finally loving the person you are can only comes with the greatest reward.
Real True Love.