By: Sarah Busick
Heartbreak. If you haven’t experienced it yet, consider yourself lucky. It’s one of the most excruciating pains I’ve ever felt, and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. However, I wouldn’t trade my experience with it for anything, and here’s why:
Everyone feels and processes heartbreak in a different way. For me, it felt like my heart was made of glass and dropped off the highest point of the Empire State Building. I felt as though I was drowning, my heart gasping for air, but I was never quite able to break the surface and breathe. I spent months trying to process what had gone wrong, blaming myself for things that clearly were not my fault.
Although I finally accepted that there was nothing I could do to change what happened, a piece of me was still missing, and I was moving through the world with a void that I did not know how to fill. Not only had I lost a significant other, I had lost a best friend too. To top it all off, my family moved that same week to a city six hours away from all of my friends, and I was trapped at a college where I felt disconnected and isolated. Needless to say, neither of those things helped speed up the healing process.
At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Why in the world is she grateful for this experience?” Trust me, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on that too. The breakup actually ended up being the push I needed to start changing my life. Yes, I’m aware that sounds super cliche, but it’s completely true.
Several months after the breakup, I decided it was time for a change. I took a huge risk and applied as a transfer student to two schools, each over 1,000 miles away from home, and from him. Suddenly, I realized that I wasn’t tied down to anything anymore, and I had the freedom to just pack up and leave without feeling guilty or like I needed to explain myself.
That is how I ended up here at Boston University, which has truly proven to be the best decision I have ever made. That would never have happened without having my heart broken. Moving to Boston kickstarted my journey to healing more than anything else had, and although I still had a ways to go, I was finally taking steps in the right direction.
Photo credit: Sarah Busick
Now, over a year and a half since the breakup, I can confidently say that I am grateful for everything this experience has taught me. Not only have I had the opportunity to grow as an individual, but I have accomplished more than I previously thought possible. Having my heart broken taught me how to love myself again, learn more about the world around me, and appreciate my independence.
I’ve reached a point in the last several months where the pain has worn off, and I no longer flinch when I hear his name; in fact, it doesn’t phase me at all anymore. Although it isn’t perfect, I’m more than satisfied with my life right now and am happy with the woman I have grown into.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey, and thank you to my ex for breaking my heart – I’m better off now because of it.
Whether you’re going through a heartbreak right now or you go through one later in life, remember that it does get better. We learn from every experience we have, and although it hurts now, it won’t forever. You’ve got far better things in store for your life than a relationship with someone who stops loving you back.
Cover photo credit: Etsy
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