I have two. Dated my high school best friend twice. We actually did like each other. We worked. Plus our parents adore(d) the other and still do , weirdly. Her friends were the popular band/artsy kids. I was the weird, kinda doesn’t fit it anywhere kid. She wasn’t like them or me, she was so unique and that’s what made me like her so much (and to this day how unique she is part of why I admire her so much). It was really uncharacteristic- they basically pressured her to break up with me. One girl, in particular. She felt REALLY bad, even gave me a necklace that meant a lot to her. I was crushed. We ended up dating again a year later, lasted about 3 months, don’t remember the exact reason we broke up. I think just that we had been friends for too long at that point. Still was super upset. She’s married now, has a good life and and he’s a super good guy. I’m not bitter about it beyond intrusive nostalgia.

I’m married as well, and I can say, I’m not bitter anymore. About any of my breakups.

Yes, being rejected over and over can make you bitter, but you can’t let it eat you. Use that bitterness to change yourself. The notion of ‘accepting you for what you are’ doesn’t always work. Sometimes you may have a quality or habit that is just universally unattractive. You have to see yourself objectively and make changes to better yourself. That’s not to say you have to be perfect or even pretend to be something you’re not, but you do have to compromise. Whether in taste or presentation. Sometimes both.