TFR: Just because it didn't last... nothing is ever wasted

Just because something ends doesn't mean it wasn't good while it lasted.

I know people who feel their relationships were a waste of time since they didn’t last. Perhaps my words can offer solace if you find yourself in this position.

You see, nothing we experience is a waste. I am not saying every experience is desired or even worthwhile, I’m just saying that we can make the most of any event by looking at its greatness rather than its ending. 

Take my friend, a woman who entered a relationship with a man, fully aware he wasn't the love of her life. She felt more friendship than romance but doubted her own worthiness of love and chose to settle.

They stayed together for years and had wonderful children. Eventually, she realised she didn't need to settle for a relationship that felt like mere companionship. She ended it and later told me she felt as if she had wasted those years. I reminded her that she hadn't; those years gave her two children she dearly loves. She wouldn’t want to be without them. Nothing we experience is ever truly wasted.

Even if a relationship ends without children, it still holds value. Another friend believed his 4-year relationship was a failure because it didn’t last forever. But relationships aren't about success or failure—they're complex dances between two people. I remember his early days of love, the joy in his voice when he spoke of her. Those experiences aren't wasteful, they are worth remembering.

Consider long-term relationships, like a marriage lasting over 15 years that ends abruptly. The immediate aftermath is filled with anger, resentment, and sadness—natural emotions in such situations.

It's okay to grieve the loss of what you expected your life to be. Grief isn't reserved for death alone; it’s also for lost dreams and expectations.

In time, I hope those grieving can look back and see the reasons they came together in the first place—the love at their wedding, the joy in their travels, the smiles and laughter shared.

    Just because something ends doesn't mean it wasn't good while it lasted.

Every experience adds richness to our lives, even if we can't see it immediately. 

Take care of yourself and trust that every moment has its worth.

PS. If you would like my help to make more of your time and life, email info@annikarosendahl.com, and I will come back to you.