Lauren Jarvis-Gibson

All it takes is a glance. A simple ‘hello’. All it takes is a flutter of a heart or a handshake that feels so much like a kiss.

Let 2017 be the year where you finally acknowledge how special you are. And no matter your relationship status, your income amount, the kind of car you drive in, the kind of home you live in and the kind of family you come from, you know in your heart that you are so incredibly worthy.

You have standards that are impeccably high. You won’t settle for just anyone and view your relationships incredibly seriously. You know that you deserve the best, and know that you are worth someone special.

You can become instantly quieter amongst a crowd. Usually, crowds are not your thing and you can become a bit anxious in them. You would rather stay quiet and in your own head than ever have to make nice small talk with a stranger.

I honestly thought we were both on the same page. Unfortunately all I ever got from that relationship was left over hickies, a broken heart, and rejection that stung like nothing I had ever experienced before.

When you miss her, remember to give yourself a slap on the face because that’s what she would’ve wanted you to do. And when you miss her, remember all the words you never said and know you’re the reason it’s over.

Losing a dog is never something you can be prepared for.

So please, speak up for yourself. Please treat yourself like gold. You are a wonderful, strong human being. You are not a piece of meat. You are not just a body. You are not something to be forgotten. And you are not something to be tossed to the side of the road.

Being in a relationship isn’t going to make you any happier if you aren’t happy with yourself first.

When they ask you why you left her, bite your already short nails and try to come up with a good enough answer.

I think casual relationships can work for some people. Some people can find pleasure and fun out of it. But, it’s not for me. I refuse to be the one tossed aside for other people to have their cake and eat it too. I refuse to be on the sidelines.

Thank you for the hugs when you know something is wrong even when we don’t tell you anything. And thank you for the memories that we can reminisce about together, until we make even greater memories.

If you spend too much time looking for love, you’ll start neglecting the people that really matter. Go out with your friends, have a night dedicated to your family, and focus on the relationships that you do have.

Stop letting failure scare you from what you want and need. Start accepting that failure is necessary to eventually succeed.

Put tiny love notes in his pocket when he’s getting ready for work.

The truth is, there is no explanation. There is no logical reason. It just is what love does sometimes. It turns to dust. It turns to rain. And it turns to scars and wounds.

Stop hiding your feelings out of fear. Tell that boy you like him. Tell that girl you love her. Stop missing opportunities just because you fear rejection.

You visualize interactions before they happen. Whether it’s a first date, or a group hangout, you visualize and imagine what you are going to say in your head beforehand and try to think of every possible scenario that could happen.