Allow me to tell you a story about a teenager in love. It’s a classic girl meets boy story, but the ending is anything but happily ever after.

At sixteen she was in love from the moment he expressed interest. If she was versed on listening to what was said she would have heard what he said, sadly she’d never been taught.

He never promised her the world, he never expressed an interest in commitment but him wanting her was all that she needed to plan a wedding in her thoughts. Her imaginary children had names, her house a picket fence, and yes …. there was a tiny dog in the front yard.

One day someone approached her with boastful energy and spoke some dream shattering words. She turned to him for clarity, and trusted his truth – unfortunately it wasn’t hers.

Years passed and she still held on to her painted picture, although reality altered the vision. She’d experienced life with other people but never shook the desire to go back to him, and so she did. She learned to live with hurt because it was more bearable than the pain of not being with him.

SHE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH HURT…..

she began to accept hurt …

she trended towards people that hurt her….

she equated hurt with love….

She silently lived a hurt filled life until an elder poured wisdom into her. This woman of ripe age sat her down and said your eyes – I look in your eyes and can tell your smile is a lie. The entire conversation, which lasted all of 10 minutes, focused on the need for her to love herself more.

I said in the beginning this wasn’t a happily ever after story, but now that I reflect it really is. There’s no marriage of a lifetime nor was a child born, but she walked away from his hurt and created her own reality…. one free from pain of not being with him!

Believe that you deserve better and spend each day strengthening your ability to walk away. There’s no weakness in needing help, everyone could use a listening ear from time to time. You deserve to be loved, and that shouldn’t hurt. Your eyes tell truths your lips never speak, one day someone will see through your smile.