The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store

by Cait Flanders

From this, he had learned vows were just words; actions were what made them commitments.

Like him, I learned I had a tendency to shut down during conflict. I also gave up my interests and opinions too easily. I accepted whatever love was given to me, thinking that was as good as it was going to get.

I also would’ve died with my phone in my hand, because I couldn’t stop looking at it, wondering if Andrew was ever going to send one of his usual text messages again. I hated that I was in this position. I hated that I had become the girl who was sitting around, waiting for a guy. But I waited and waited and checked my phone for his messages. They never came through.

I also believe we choose who we share these internal struggles with before we make our final decisions, because we almost always tell the person who will enable us to make the bad choice.