I believe that every person who enters our life teaches us a life lesson. Some lessons are more important than others. Some will be learned over and over again. However, some lessons will be learned the hard way.
Let’s roll back to 2006 and my first official relationship. For privacy reasons we will call him Lowie.
Lowie taught me about Love, self-respect and most importantly: Cheaters never prosper.
I took an interest in my art and always had my nose in a book, so dating wasn’t an interest to me until very late into high school. So I didn’t get my first boyfriend until I was 17 and the last year of High school. This was also the time that Lowie entered my life. At the time I found him to be charming, sweet, he could hold a real conversation, and he was a looker. Curly blond hair, Blue eyes, athletic. The total length of our relationship lasted 2 years. Although, looking back it should have ended around our 1 year.
The reason for this is after about a year, Lowie cheated on me. He had gone on a date with a girl and sealed it with a kiss. Finding out Lowie took the time to get to know this girl over a date, driving her home and kissing her good night. First boyfriend and heartbreak. However, I was going to stand my ground. It’s been almost some years since that breakup. I can still remember being on the phone with him asking who this girl was and he didn’t lie to me; he told me he was sorry, it was a mistake. I remember telling him that he didn’t really love me; he didn’t respect me as his girlfriend. How could I continue dating someone who could so easily betray me? My heart was broken by not just some guy, but someone I considered at the time to be a true friend. I was done, relationship over.
Cue getting roses and love notes every day for a week. It was especially romantic because he was away working at a summer camp. So of course, I took him back. I was being wooed! What kind of 18 year old wouldn’t love this?
We dated another year before we broke up, for good. Why did we break up after another year? Well, he cheated on me again. This time I would let him go, I deserved better.
This relationship taught me many things. One was one of the most important life lessons to date.
Cheaters never prosper and aren’t worth it to keep them.
I find it funny how lessons you learned in your past can help you in your present. Over the years I’ve had other boyfriends who’ve cheated, but unlike the first, they don’t get to come back. I refuse to allow myself to be with someone who can’t make the effort to stand beside me on this crazy ride called life.
It’s like the saying goes, When Life gives you lemons, and you make lemonade. You have to put in the work to get the reward.
All the best,
Bailey B.
