The Utter Joy of Being Liberated From the Bonds of Love

HALLELUJAH: ALEX IS NO LONGER A DAMSEL!

So I made a point to try not to discuss my personal life on this blog, but I've made a breakthrough and I think it's important enough to share with you because maybe it can help you too.

Without giving away too many details, let me just say that I have recently put myself in a position to become a victim of my love life. I made myself vulnerable, and I have been struggling to maintain my dignity throughout this situation. Because I still had hope that this situation would end well, I let myself suffer for the sake of the relationship.

Today something miraculous happened. An old friend texted me randomly. We talked for awhile and by the end of the day, I started getting really stressed out about my state of mind toward my relationship. While I was at the gym I started praying to God for strength and peace that I haven't felt since before I was in this situation. After I got back, I really felt like venting to my friend just because I wanted an unbiased, objective opinion. I didn't even really think about what he would say; I just really needed to get some stuff out. Then he proceeded to give me some of the best and most honest advice I've probably ever been given, or maybe just because it was the right words and the right time from the right person. Here's what my answered prayer helped me to understand:

Despite the way I've been treating myself, I'm actually a very confident person. It's not like I think I'm the hottest thing around; I just value myself enough to know that I deserve the best. Anyway, lately I've been sacrificing what's best for me for what's best for another person, which of course is something you should be willing to do if you love someone. However, doing this for months has turned me into one of those dumb girls on TV who I pity and despise for not having a backbone. People kept telling me that I deserve better, but I was thinking of better in terms of the guy, and I know that he is a really great guy so I just dismissed their advice because I wasn't willing to sacrifice him. Then tonight my friend somehow finally made me get it.
-People aren't too good for other people, but we're all too good to be treated poorly.-
If I was in the same situation with a guy I knew was bad I would've gotten out of it immediately, but because I was waiting for my good boy I was blinded into thinking that he was worth what I was putting myself through. And whether or not that's true, if I keep doing this, he'll never remember what I'm really worth because I'm making myself nothing.

As long as we're sitting around waiting for our Knight in Shining Armor we'll always be a Damsel in Distress. I don't want to spend my life waiting up in a tower to be saved. I'm gonna free myself and live my life. You have to be the hero in your own story for at least the majority of the plot.

Moral of my story: If you love someone, don't make it too easy for them to win your affection. Make them fight and they'll know that to have the best they have to give their best. Never settle for less.

Thank you God. Thank you Trevor Finchamp.