Being 23. No, really. Actually BEING 23.

There are so many people in my life who are holding me up right now, and I love them with all of my heart. I don't even know where to begin. They are helping me piece my life back together, which is all too hard when you're doing it without some help.

Bruno is a guy at work who is fucking hilarious. We chat and it usually ends in a ridiculous amount of laughter. Everyone at work knows my situation because I'm actually very close with my coworkers. And Bruno offered me the absolute BEST advice anyone has given me thus far.

I told him about my dating adventures. This is how our conversation began:

Bruno: So you were married for four years, right?

Me: Not married..

Bruno: Um, right. So you were married for four years, right?

Me: Okay fine, practically.

Bruno: And now you're going on this date tomorrow, right?

Me: Right.

Bruno: And then it's going to go great and you're possibly going to be married again for four years, right? And then where will you be?

That's when the little light bulb went off in my head. He's so right.

Why do I want a relationship? I have to enjoy this time. Why can't I learn to be on my own for a little bit and rely on myself for my own happiness? Why can't I show myself that I can take care of myself and learn to be emotionally independent?

My conversation with Bruno fell into a bunch of other conversations. For instance, how he enjoyed his youth for the last few years and how he's finally ready to get a little more serious because he got it out of his system.

I never got it out of my system.

And this is the great part about it all.. it didn't hurt him to take that time out and just be independent. He has the rest of his life to find someone to share his time with. And everyone has a past.

So I'm going to relax. I'm going to let my hair down and make some new friends. I'm going to be a little bit irresponsible like most 23 year olds and make some mistakes that I probably won't ever regret. But I'll also be smart enough to avoid the mistakes that I definitely WILL regret.

I'm just going to chill out for a couple of seconds and figure things out. I don't even know anything about myself anymore. I really need to learn about Miss Nicole. I think that should be my top priority right now. I think it should be every 23 year old's priority.