To All the Ones I’ve Loved Before (Thank You)

lessons learned, hearts healed, growth embraced

To all the ones I’ve loved before—

Thank you.

No, really, thank you.

The ones who ghosted, the ones who couldn’t meet me halfway, even the ones who made me question my worth. You've all taught me something, so thank you.

To the one who showed me what passion is, even when it burned out faster than I wanted it to, thank you.

To the one who reminded me that consistency is sexy, but also that I should never settle for love that feels like an obligation, thank you.

To the one who made me laugh until I cried, and to the one who made me cry until I had nothing left, thank you, for in that emptiness, I learned how to fill myself back up.

Thank you to the ones who were kind but not right for me. And even to the ones who weren’t kind at all, thank you. Now I know better. Now I choose better.

But most of all, thank you to me.

For healing. For growing. For not (quite) turning bitter. For choosing to believe in love, even when it felt impossible. For learning that real, deep, sustainable love, starts with me.

Your Turn: A Love Letter to Growth

If you’re reading this, I invite you to try this exercise for yourself. Take a moment to reflect on your past relationships, situationships, and near-misses. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask yourself: What did this experience teach me? How did it shape me? What do I want (or not want) in the future?

Then, write a thank-you letter—to them, to yourself, to the version of you who got through it all. Be honest. Be real. Be kind.

Because love isn’t just about the people who come and go—it’s also about the way we choose to show up for ourselves, again and again.

Always with love, La Fille d’Ennui 💛

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