We grow up believing love is the rarest thing in the world.
We believed finding ‘the one’ is like winning a lottery. That if someone chooses us, we should hold on, no matter what it costs. So we stay in conversations that drain us, relationships that confuse us, and situations that slowly chip away at who we are.
All in the name of love.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth no one tells you early enough:
Love isn’t rare. Self-respect is.
Love is everywhere. It’s in late-night texts, temporary attention, almost-commitments, and promises that sound beautiful but lack consistency. People will say “I love you” and still choose themselves over you every single time. They’ll make you feel special until it becomes inconvenient.
And that’s where most people get stuck.
They mistake attention for love. Effort for intention. Presence for commitment.
But self-respect? That’s a different story.
Self-respect is walking away when your feelings are real, but the treatment isn’t.
It’s choosing silence over begging for clarity.
It’s understanding that being alone is far better than being undervalued.
