Holly Riordan

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.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell whether the person you’re interested in dating has good intentions or whether they’re only stringing you along.

Almost relationships can break your heart harder than any flat-out rejection ever could. After all, when someone rejects you right away, at least you know where you stand with them.

Toxic humans are never going to meet you halfway. They are never going to come to a mature, healthy, adult agreement with you.

You’ll feel bad about having nothing to add to a conversation. When there’s a lull in conversation or you have trouble answering a text, you might feel like you’re a terrible conversationalist.

You don’t have to give them another chance just because they’re asking for one, because they’re down on their knees, because they’re crying about how much they love you and couldn’t imagine living without you.

Getting back together might be tempting, but you need to remember why you walked away in the first place.

They will make you feel trapped. They will convince you that no one else will ever love you the way that they love you.

Love is about spreading a blanket across your partner when they fall asleep on the couch watching movies. Turning the car on for them and scraping ice off the windows so they have an easy morning.

Relationships can be hard work – but they should also feel safe, comfortable, and fun. They should be a source of joy, not stress.

Maybe they have a busy life. Maybe there are other things on their mind. Maybe they are swamped with responsibilities that are bigger than you and them.

It’s scary to get into a new relationship with a new person because you’re giving them the potential to break your heart. You’re allowing them to hold a certain amount of power over you.

It’s never easy to get over a heartbreak, whether you were in a long-term relationship or had a huge crush that lasted years. However, it’s always possible to move on.

You’re not selfish for saying no when someone asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. You’re allowed to have standards. You’re allowed to assert boundaries.