It is no secret that I have always been an emotional person. I am someone who feels deeply and loves deeply. It is also one of the reasons that when I feel betrayed, I hurt deeply too. I believe that love is the answer and I will always advocate for love and respect. That will never change. 

However, in my growth, I have learned that my love does not need to be a reason for pain. In love, there can be boundaries. In love, I am allowed to say no. It has taken me years to understand this because I always thought that these two concepts could co-exist. I was always willing to sacrifice myself, my mental health, my well-being, for the love I had for someone. This is simply toxic. It caused me to live cycles of manipulation, of refraining my feelings for the sake of the other person, and cycles of self-doubt. 

This is a lesson I needed to learn more than once, in all types of relationships. I often say that the Universe will keep sending you the same lesson over and over until you are so fed up that you have no choice but to listen and understand it. 

It is for this reason that I am currently living this chapter, called “ME”. Learning to love myself, listening to myself and putting myself first has been the best exercise I have ever practiced. I am more focused, confident, organized and secure. 

It has allowed for those who truly matter and care about me to encourage me, while others have simply fallen off my path, and that is okay. 

It is never too late to love again, more importantly, it is never too late to love yourself.