Over time, you begin to understand that life is not built around one person. It is not meant to shrink down to whoever you are loving at the moment. There is a whole self inside you that existed before any relationship and will continue long after one ends. Your dreams, your interests, your purpose do not disappear just because your heart is invested somewhere. Love can be beautiful, but it is not meant to replace your identity. Relationships may change, but the life you are building for yourself is what remains steady. The most important connection you will ever nurture is the one you have with your own growth and direction. When you focus on becoming whole on your own, you stop chasing and start choosing. And suddenly, love becomes something that adds to your world instead of becoming the only thing in it.