Can I tell you a secret? You donât have to be in a relationship.Â
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I mean it. I know they force it down your throat until you choke on it. Girls arenât pretty unless theyâre wanted. Boys arenât men unless theyâre having sex with someone. People arenât lovable until theyâre dating someone.Â
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But a relationship wonât always make you happy, and as wonderful as romance is, it isnât the only love that exists. I have seen friendships that are deeper and more pure than couples who swear itâs forever - and yet the friendship is the one people ignore.Â
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I have heard so often ânobody loves meâ out of the mouths of people who are single. And it kills me because if you ask them: where are your parents, your teachers, your classmates, your pets - they say, yes, okay, but it doesnât count. Of course it counts, love doesnât diminish just because someone doesnât want to have sex with you. In fact, doesnât it sort of make that love more real that they want nothing - not even a date - out of you?
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It is pretty to be in love. Itâs magical, Iâm sure. But itâs also wonderful to stop for ice cream in your prom dress with six other girls. Itâs also wonderful to go visit the world with nothing but a bunch of buddies who are really excited about learning.Â
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The problem is: weâve made everything about âthe oneâ. But maybe âthe oneâ is just you, loving yourself, having fun, and being happy. Maybe instead of looking for our other halves, we should be piecing ourselves together.
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Maybe I wasnât born unfinished. Maybe I am the one who makes myself better.