Today while walking with the dog we arrived at a quiet spot by a pond that is infrequently visited by the public. The dog and I had been there many times and I’ve always appreciated the peaceful feelings of the place, especially while gazing out over the water. Things were slightly different this time, however, for I noticed a piece of notebook paper tucked between two nearby tree trunks. It was a curious thing because I had looked at these same two trees countless times, and yet I’d never seen the paper between them, which led me to believe it must have been placed there recently. But, upon pulling it out, I found it to be dated some 4 months ago. Waterlogged and smeared as the writing was, much of it was still legible, and I found myself transported into the mind and emotions of another visitor of this pond, who had composed the note while sitting beside it.

It wasn’t a happy note by any means. The author was indeed experiencing heartbreak caused by separating from someone they loved. It was beautiful though, in that different sort of way that I have a difficult time describing. Perhaps it was the mystery of the note that made it so interesting, but I think more-so it was experiencing and relating to the very raw emotions felt by the person who had written it. I couldn’t help but be taken back to a similar moment, shortly after things had ended in a serious romantic relationship of my own, when I had sat on the banks of a river in a different area.

I recall going through the same emotions the person in the note had described. Knowing that things were over for good, and yet still being just as in love with that special someone as ever. The note-writer had specifically said that no matter how much time passes they would always love the other, and I had felt those same sentiments. So yes, my heart went out to this person and the one the note was for, but I was not saddened. If anything, what stood out to me the most was how amazing it is that so many of us go through the same sort of situations in life and feel the same strong emotions about them. It was also really nice to be able to reflect on how I am now compared to how I was over two years ago after that difficult breakup. The truth is, I do still have love for that person, even though all that time has passed. But the need to be with them faded long ago. My love now just expresses itself in wishing them the very best in their life and everything that they do. Because if you truly love someone, and they say it’s time to end your journey together, you want them to be happy no matter what. It was a long process for me to reach the point where I became good with the idea that I wasn’t ever going to get her back. It was even longer until I found myself in the place I am today, actively looking and ready for another serious relationship. And it gave me some hope for this individual that had written the note by the pond that one day they too would get past the need of being with this other person.

I tucked the note back where I’d found it once I was finished reading. Maybe it’s there for that certain someone to read. Maybe someone else will find it like I did and have a good reflection and insight about the experience that this person went through. I think, though, that the author of the note wrote it more-so to the Universe, or to the pond, as a way to simply get all those feelings out. I can certainly appreciate that. A note that perhaps was never meant to be read by the recipient at all.

When we go through these immensely challenging life situations there is no proper time-frame for getting adjusted and moving on. I do think one of the most important things to learn when you and someone you love split apart is how you could have been better in the relationship, both for yourself and the other person. And I think most significant of all is to use it as a time to start learning how to love yourself. To become your own best friend and partner in life. Because you’ll always have you. And that’s a relationship worth working on, because it’ll never end.