I am not an expert in any way, but after the heartbreak that changed the physics, chemistry, and biology of my life — a heartbreak that still haunts me even after two years — I think I’ve earned the right to know a thing or two about moving on.
For some background, I now realize I was in love with the potential. The potential that, if I stayed through my unhappiness, he might see how unhappy I was and change. Writing this now, I can’t help but giggle. Putting thoughts into words has always helped me process things — to understand what happened and why. I’ve probably written this ten times before finally agreeing with my heart and brain to share it on a platform familiar to readers and writers alike.
I won’t deny it: he was the love of my life. But here’s the thing — the love of your life shouldn’t make you cry or question your self-worth. And yet, he was it for me (still giggling). After all, he taught me how to love and appreciate myself, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. One thing is certain: I will always come first before anyone else. If I’m not happy, it impacts everything around me — my perspective, my actions, my relationships. Relying on external sources for happiness is, without a doubt, a half-hearted way to live the life we deserve.
Moving on from someone is such an uncanny emotion — a constant confusion between feeling relieved and feeling sad about letting go. Do I celebrate my freedom or grieve the memories? Honestly, I don’t think anyone has a definitive answer because we all process emotions differently. You can feel like a baddie one moment, and thirty seconds later, you’re bawling your eyes out. Then there’s the fear of letting go — the “what if they come back” scenario. Deep down, we know the truth: they won’t. And if they do, it’ll reopen wounds you painstakingly stitched up, dragging you back to square one.
To make matters worse, there’s the moment you find out they’re dating someone else. Even if it happens years later, it’s hard not to question yourself. I did. Most of us do. But if I’m being honest, deep down, there’s relief — a sense of freedom from the burden of “what if” and an openness to accept love in all its forms, whether platonic or romantic.
Moving on isn’t linear. It’s messy, unpredictable, and at times, painful. But it’s also freeing. It’s a journey of rediscovering yourself, prioritizing your happiness, and realizing that true love — whether it’s from within or from someone new — doesn’t make you question anything, it just is, you only need to exist for that person. It builds you both up.
So here’s to moving on — to the heartbreaks that taught us resilience, the lessons that shaped us, and the hope that brighter days are ahead.
