by Karen Moro

Created on: August 16, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

It's a funny thing, to think about that phrase: "It's better to love and lost than to not love at all?"

One day I was feeling giddy, hoping that the person that I fell in love with loved me back.

Rather, it's an entangled web of deception if it's one-sided. I'm a hopeless romantic and I dreamed about the day that my Prince Charming will come and we'll live happily ever after. But where does that true happiness lie?

In my case, I thought about the relationships I've been in. One turned out to be a friendship, and the first guy that I thought I fell in love with didn't love me. It was physical attraction in the beginning, the relationship lasted for four months, and he had to leave back home (he was out of state). He said we'll keep in touch, and I eagerly held on to the idea that we would settle down together either at my hometown or his. I visited him, but he never visited me. I called him and wrote him all the time. He hardly did that.

Over time, I thought about this-am I losing my mind? For two years I've waited for him, hoping that he would fall in love with me just the same. Then I realized that it wasn't going to happen.

I had to love and let go.

If one doesn't reciprocate your love then it may be just hard enough to let go. I was afraid of what would happen. What if I'll never find someone who will love me for who I am? I'm so convinced he's the one!

This is where you got to set aside your emotions and see the big picture of what's really going on. Don't be gazing at the screen with starry eyes, look behind the scenes with a keen sense of direction.

The key to letting go is to simply affirm yourself of the facts, that no matter what happens I am happy with myself and I have a wonderful support group of family and friends to help me through this. Realize that you are an independent person and true happiness comes by staying focused, believing that you have a wonderful personality and one day you will attract the person who will love you for who you are.

Bottom line: high self-esteem will attract that love in your life.

The fear of letting go came from the low self-esteem because I thought he was the one when he was indeed not.

Love is a many-splendored thing. When two people love, they share everything. That's the proof. It really does take two to tango.

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