How to Survive a Break-up

For nine months I had been seeing this boy. And for seven of the nine months he was my boyfriend. Then he suddenly became my ex. It was the most out-of-left-field experience I’ve ever had. I spent my entire weekend in the same clothes, surrounded by tissue and wishing it was all a dream.

I can honestly say that it was the most horrifying experience of my life. He was my first real boyfriend, the first boy I loved and the first boy to break my heart. For nine months he was my best friend and my confidant. And all of a sudden he was not. I’m sure some of you have been in my shoes and, unfortunately, all of you will be there.

But there are two things you can always count on: your friends and yourself. Going through this made me realize how much my friends love me and how much I love them. More than anyone else, my friends were there to listen, even though most of the time they couldn’t understand me through the sobs. When I wanted to rant and be angry, they slammed my ex. When I wanted to just be sad, they brought me fro yo. And when I didn’t want to talk at all, they were there to watch Grey’s Anatomy reruns and marvel at McSteamy’s abs. Ben and Jerry helped too!

In the few days I’d had to reflect on the situation, I realized that in the end, he didn’t care enough to make us work as a couple. I didn’t want to be in a relationship in which I gave my all and didn’t get that in return. Yes, I was devastated, but being pushed aside so he could hang out with his friends would have been worse. I know that I deserve to be treated better than that, and while I was still in utter shock and despair, I came out okay.

So ladies, be sad. Cry. Yell. Punch a pillow. Eat some ice cream. Stare at McSteamy’s abs. You deserve it. But don’t forget that someone will find you and love you and treat you like the princess you are. Don’t let one person ruin you. I know that it hurts, and I know that it feels like your whole world has fallen apart, because I felt the same way. But then I remembered that my friends are still there, and that in the end I was going to be okay. I know you will be too.