My insatiable desire for sex cost Maggie her degree

Things I’d like to tell my younger self about love, dating and relationships

Of all the things I’ve learned while growing up, love, dating and heartbreaks have changed me quite a bit. And now that I have a better idea of all the three things in my late 20s, I’d like to give my younger self some lessons to remember. For all I know, my personal experiences could help other young people out there who are struggling with love, dating and heartbreaks.

02/9Love yourself first

This might sound crazy as you might think you already love yourself. But there will be situations in your life when you would start doubting that feeling and not love yourself as much as you should. The feeling can be so powerful that it might become difficult for you to be able to give love to others as well. So make sure you always love yourself first and the most.

03/9Take time to know yourself

Most of the times in our lives, people influence our likes and dislikes. But if you so not believe in those choices, don’t let them influence you. Peer pressure is a thing but not a great thing! It can consume you and turn you into a person you aren’t deep inside. So, take all the time you want to understand who you really are.

04/9Love is beyond the books and movies

There will come a time when all the characters in the books and movies will try to convince you that reality is what they showcase. But you’ll only be disappointed if none of that happens in your real life. Don’t judge and gauge love on the basis of some words or enacted on screens. Love is much more than that. And when you feel it, is when you’ll know what it should be like.

05/9Heartbreaks are horrible but you just can’t avoid them

You might have seen or known people around you facing heartbreaks and telling you how much it hurts. This might make you start believing that if you remain single for the longest time, nobody can break your heart. Well, guess what! You cannot stop yourself from falling in love or keeping yourself from heartbreaks. Of course, they are going to hurt a lot, but you will grow stronger from each one of them. Yeah, there are going to be plenty, so tighten your seatbelt.

06/9You can’t get over a person by jumping on another one

Dated someone? Didn’t go well? Broke up and now can’t move on? None of it gives you the right to think that if you’ll be with someone else immediately after a breakup, moving on becomes easy. No, it doesn’t. It will only mess up with your emotions. Take this time, grieve, feel all your emotions and then get done with those and start afresh.

07/9Be kind to people who confide in you

There will be a lot of people who will come and go. Some of them will even trust you with their secrets. And if they choose to leave your life, don’t take that opportunity as a situation to reveal their secrets to the world. They trusted you for a reason. Be kind and keep those secrets to yourself.

08/9Everybody has flaws

If you think someone else is beautiful and you aren’t as perfect as them, you’re wrong. Neither are they flawless nor are you imperfect. Everyone has flaws and the earlier you start accepting this fact the easier life will get for you.

09/9Be honest with your feelings and express them

Whatever you may feel, make sure you are 100% honest with your feelings. And if you know what you feel for someone else is what you’d want them to know, make sure you communicate about it. But if you feel something negative, choose your words very carefully. You don’t want to regret what you said to someone after the damage is already done.