This I Believe

It only takes one person, one moment, one simple event, to change your entire life. The best part is you never know when or how it will happen to you. It’s amazing how sometimes, as if by a miracle, it happens when you need it most. You may not know what you need or what you believe anymore, but fate sends you some message to let you know to keep trying, keep moving and not give up. To help renew whatever faith you may have lost along the way.

It’s distressing to me that only about half of all marriages will last, that we’ve developed into a society which relies on couples therapy and open dating in order for relationships to succeed. After recovering from many a failed relationship, I wondered what was wrong with me. I had more than once been betrayed, cheated on, lied to, and simply left for someone else. I was often left with no explanation and forced to wonder “why?”

I finally had it when I suffered a particularly bad breakup. He had been seeing the girl next door more and more frequently and after 2 weeks of beating around the bush had a friend pass the message that it was over. I was torn. Things weren’t great in the relationship, but I hadn’t seen this coming. When I finally mustered up the strength to call him, his only explanation was that he wanted to “test new waters.” I decided to take some “me” time and attempt to figure out what I wanted, especially once I decided to go back to dating. Enough was enough, I wasn’t going to appease everyone anymore and let myself be walked on. When I finally met a great new guy and the cards started to play out, I decided to be true to myself first and him second. If he didn’t like this new me, I would just move on, and be fine with that.

I believe in love. Not just love for others, but a love of myself that isn’t the least bit narcissistic. Because of this newfound love and because I stopped trying to please everyone else first, I was ready to love and be loved, and I found that. I’m finally truly happy, even if I had to be by myself, and that’s something I will gladly believe in. I finally found a man who appreciates me, who compliments me, and who helps me to fulfill my dreams. He motivates and inspires me and gives me the strength to keep going. He has helped me to truly appreciate myself. He keeps me sane when I drive myself crazy. He gives me a shoulder to lean on and a hand to hold. He’s the sign fate sent to renew my faith in love.