Thank you all for your kind and uplifting words. I feel like this is exactly what I needed to read in this difficult time.

Jasmine, yes. I do love him. It hasn’t been easy, but I know that not everything is. I can see myself spending my life with him, and though the most challenging, it has been the best relationship I’ve ever been in. I can be a ding dong when it comes to men, but my gut tells me this one is good. I have learned a lot from him, bettered myself and the way I handle things, and allowed myself to be vulnerable when I have never done that before. He makes me laugh daily, and the fights we have gotten into, even the big ones, we always work through, usually laughing at our ridiculousness.

I think my largest issue is that I have expectations set, and on top of that, they’re extremely high. For myself, for my life, for those in my life. Perhaps I set unattainable goals in effort to keep myself safe? Or not get disappointed? I’m not sure, but all of your comments left me thinking. And I’m extremely grateful.