They say that love comes unexpectedly, when you don't expect it. But I know that it is not just found, it is built step by step. I have seen many things: the joy of first meetings, disappointments, mistakes, new beginnings. Now I know for sure that love is not about chance, but about awareness.

Understand yourself before you look for someone else

When I was young and immature, I was looking for “the one” without really knowing who I wanted. Over time, I realized that before looking for love, you need to understand yourself. What are your values? What makes you happy? If you don't know what you want, chance encounters will only confuse you.

Don't close yourself off to opportunities

Real feelings may not come at the right age, in the wrong environment, or with the person you envisioned. But if you are closed, if you expect love to find you, nothing will change. Open yourself to the world, to people, to new acquaintances - but without desperately searching. Love senses when it's being waited on too much.

Be a whole person

Love isn't when someone “completes” you. It's when you feel good with yourself and the person who feels good with you happens to be around. Earlier there were thoughts that relationships are always about two people. Now I know: first of all, it's about yourself. When you respect and love yourself, there are people around who feel it.

Don't be afraid of mistakes

Love is not only happiness, but also difficult moments, breakups, disappointments. They can not be avoided, but can be accepted as experience. Every person we meet teaches us something. The main thing is not to get stuck in the past, not to blame yourself and not to be afraid to start again.

Now I can say that love comes to those who are ready to accept it. Not to those who are desperately looking for it, but to those who live life to the fullest, develop and are open to new things. And I understand that better than ever.

And I wonder what love means to you.