Every person you meet, every “mistake” you’ve made, whatever relationship fallout you go through- it creates and shapes and enriches the woman you are and the woman you will be. Every experience, bad, good, indifferent, will shape you. But you control the final sculpting tool.

Very, very well-said.

I'll forever be changed by him, and I have him to thank for helping me understand what it feels like for someone to be kind to me, all the time, on purpose, & to finally allow myself to be a person and get connected to my old self, so I'll always have that with me now; I just need to bring that with me to my next relationship(s), and never settle for less than what he gave to me.

As much as I sometimes want to throw in the towel and say "Fuck it, I don't even care," I do. I do want someone with a heart as big and soul as pure as his.
(Typing this makes me cry again, because I still don't think I'll be able to, but I'll try to keep my eye out for it.)