Dating again...

So I've progressed into the dating world. This time around I keep looking back at patterns of who I've dated, why, and how I "won't ever do that again." 

You know how we are told over and over "you're amazing, anyone is lucky to be with you" or "don't let him treat you like that" or "you deserve so much more."

You know the reasons we hear these things? It's not the boys...it's us girls. We allow everything bad that happens to us...to happen. 

I know he's not XYZ but "he'll change for me."

He won't.

He won't call me his girlfriend because he doesn't want to label what we have.

No...he just doesn't want YOU as his girlfriend.

He got out of a hard relationship, he just needs time.

No...the right girl will make it the right time.

He's just busy.

No...he just is too busy for YOU.

[Insert whatever lie we tell ourselves to feel better about him not calling or texting back.]

If he's not asking you out, he's asking someone else. 

If he's not calling you his girlfriend, it's because he wants it to be someone else.

If he's not calling you at all, it's because he is calling someone else.

These are HARD realizations. They are difficult to swallow. I've been there. Honestly, who hasn't? And the more work it takes to convince yourself that he is into you, the more sure of a sign of how much he is not.