Holly Riordan

Consistent. You deserve a partner who treats you well consistently. Not only when he’s sober. Not only when he wants something. But every single moment he spends with you.

Argumentative. You don’t want to get into arguments every single day. Especially when they refuse to see your side of the situation, when they assume they know better, when they talk down to you like you’re stupid.

Don’t settle for someone who is going to run the other way at the first sign of conflict, someone who cannot handle a tough situation, someone who needs the relationship to be smooth sailing or they’re going to get nervous…

You shouldn’t convince yourself that this is as good as you’re ever going to get. You shouldn’t feel guilty about complaining because you’re lucky that you even have a partner.

You shouldn’t remain in the wrong relationship longer than necessary because you’re scared of being alone again, because you’re scared of hurting this other person’s feelings, because you’re scared of saying goodbye to the life you’ve already created.

You shouldn’t feel bad about how long it’s taking you to find love. You don’t have to meet your forever person when you’re in your teens or twenties.

Almost relationships are tricky because you feel like this person is perfect for you – but the relationship isn’t going anywhere. You’re stuck in stasis. However, you might mistake someone with good intentions for an almost.

The right person won’t only come around when it’s convenient for them, when they have nothing better to do and they might as well see you. Someone who genuinely loves you will make time for you.

You want to believe that the person you’ve been seeing is a good match – but there’s a chance you aren’t the only person they’re seeing.

Sometimes, your partner is going to make mistakes.  Just because they hurt you once doesn’t mean they’re going to hurt you again. However, there’s a chance that history will repeat itself.

You don’t want to break a heart on accident. You don’t want to string someone along and make them think that there’s a chance you’ll live happily ever after together when you already know that they aren’t your type.

They constantly check in on you – and need proof to back up what you’re saying. Your person needs to trust you if you want the relationship to work.

You aren’t supposed to fight with your partner. It’s impossible to date someone without having your fair share of arguments.

You might feel frustrated because it seems like your effort isn’t paying off. Because you’ve been working your butt off for years and don’t have anything to show for it.

You learn how to pick yourself up again. Every single person on this planet has endured failure. It’s not how many times you fail that matter.

Toxic relationships are going to change the way you view yourself and love as a whole.

The right person will appreciate the fact that you speak with authenticity, that you spill your secrets without second thought, that you wear your heart on your sleeve for the whole world to see.

I almost believed that the constant texts and compliments meant something, that I meant something.