Let me paint you a picture.

People always ask you why you’re still single, and they say “But you’re pretty, funny, and smart, you shouldn’t be alone, I’m sure there are tons of guys out there who would want to date a girl like you.”

You look around you and see all your friends in happy relationships. Some have been with their partners for years and some have had their hearts stolen just lately; but either way, they all have that special someone in their lives who they can laugh with on the good days, and cry to on the bad days. They have their Prince Charmings, their perfect matches, their soulmates; and you on the other hand, have yet to find your person.

It’s not like you chose to be alone. Your twin flame just hasn’t come along yet. And the funny thing is, after a while… you kind of understand why. You realize that you’re not like most of the other girls. You’re not as soft-spoken or as approachable. You stand your ground and you fend for yourself.

But when the time you’ve most awaited for comes, trust your gut and don’t settle. Don’t jump at the first boy who gives you attention. Make sure he is right, make sure he makes you happy.  Make sure he will love every piece of you: the broken, the bruised and the fragile. Make sure he will be the one who can turn your bad days into good days. Make sure that when you’re beside him, it feels like a beautiful, warm sunset.

Don’t allow yourself to be the person he talks to only when he is bored. Don’t allow yourself to be the second option, the doormat, the backup plan. Don’t allow yourself to be treated less than you deserve.

If he can’t love you for all your curves and edges, don’t just bite your lip and hold your tongue. Don’t dull your shine for anyone.

You deserve so much better than that, you deserve a dive-in-to-forever kind of love. Keep your confidence and fuel through with it. Let it show, let it radiate. Continue to grow into the beautiful person that you are. You are strong, you are wise, and you are wonderful. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.

You are your own person, and with that, you are whole.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a man to love you. Don’t let it get to you. Don’t allow other people to manipulate you into loneliness. Don’t let your overthinking eat you up and shred you into pieces. You know you are stronger than this. You have a beating heart, driven by an intense passion and a wild soul.

In this world, you don’t wilt, you bloom.

Let the world look at you and see faith, strength and hope. Continue to blossom, develop, change, inspire and shatter expectations.

So, don’t be in a rush to find and feel love. Good things take time. Be patient and don’t lose hope in yourself. One day, you will discover your own love, and it will be better than all the dreams you have ever dreamed before.