One of the Marines posted a comment that told the sad story of young Marines getting "Dear John" letters, then going to the Shooting range to try and end their pain. If any of you young Soldiers out there think just because a girl has moved on...your life is over, I want to relate my own experience.
The girl in the Picture I had known since she was in Fourth Grade, by the time she was in Eighth Grade we were going Steady, by Tenth Grade, we were engaged. After I came home from Germany, she was in College, and we broke up. I was devastated. I wished her well, but secretly I was hoping she would come back to me. I was lost, lonely, and sad. I didn't move on. But then I started to think about what I liked and didn't like about being with her. Then I realized we never did adult stuff- pay bills, have a job, rent an apartment...we were kids who thought love was enough to live. Slowly, I learned that if someone had learned to love me, someone else could too. Later I realized she was a great first girl! She taught me some of the things that I still use: be kind, listen, don't fix every thing. Things like that ...came in real handy.
Seven Years later and I met my Kathy. I forgot all about my first girl, and realized she did the right thing. She and her guy stayed married for 48 years until his untimely death. Me and my Kathy? Well, we celebrate 44 this year, and 45 of being together. And in my whole life, I can honestly say, I have never second guessed my decision to ask my Kathy to be...well, my Kathy.
So remember no matter how much it hurts at the time, you will heal. There are other people out there who will find you attractive enough to fall in love. Or at least be good friends. Keep living, keep loving, keep laughing, and someday, it will pay off. Each time you fall in love, you learn a bit more about how to love, and what it takes. And then two things will become apparent, you are glad you broke up, and you are glad to have met the new girl. Love is tough, even when it works. So be brave, put yourself out there, and just be you. Because eventually you- being just you- will be what snags them.