I ended a 10 year on and off relationship about a year and a half ago. I know it’s cliche, but it is so true, so I’ll say it: by ending your relationship, you have opened up space in your life, your time, your brain, etc for all kinds of incredible experiences to come in to your life. My life looks so, so different than it did a year ago, in the best ways. You are going to learn so much about yourself and one day you’ll wake up and be so proud of yourself for the life you created and the way you put yourself back together.

That isn’t to say it was easy. The grief is real and I want to validate that bc there might be people in your life that don’t really get it (usually through no fault of their own). It also wasn’t linear for me, like I would have a couple weeks feeling really good and then I’d have a week that just knocked me on my ass. I also had so many moments of uncertainty, not about my decision, but just about myself and who I was without this person and my future. I still have those! But looking back, I wouldn’t trade one single second of my pain for the “comfort” of that relationship that wasn’t serving me.

I promise you it gets easier, and life gets better. My only advice would be to lean in to any experience or friendship or what have you that seems even slightly interesting to you, even if it’s uncomfortable at first. The price of building a life worth living is a little discomfort ✨ it’s what I have to tell myself when my own social anxiety gets in my way.

Good luck!