So this week I received my first, fully-fledged, negative piece of criticism. The comment in question highlighted how my lack-of-experience didn’t give me the right to write my posts. How my age means I clearly have not experienced enough of life to be in a position to express my ideas and opinions on relationships, dating and love.
Firstly, I have never been good with receiving criticism, but let’s face it – who is? After an array of emotions: my pride was hurt, I was worried what people actually thought of this blog, and I even questioned my motives for writing about this highly contentious subject matter.
However, after a few days of being sullen with regards to Never Settle, it occurred to me that I shouldn’t let one piece of feedback hinder or stop me from wanting to help other people.
I made Never Settle to motivate, inspire and help people. Not to gloat, or complain, or whine about relationships.
Never Settle looks to provide a range of outcomes and a way of achieving them – all from someone who has experienced exactly what they’re going through.
No, my age may not indicate that I have had significant life experience to dictate about relationships, but luckily that’s not what I set out to do. As long as I bring one or two people some comfort in their new-found knowledge, or inspired someone to be truer to themselves, then I’m happy.
I never claimed to be an expert, nor that my advice is universally applicable – just like in He’s Just Not That Into You (2009), there are always exceptions to the rule.
I want people to exit the page feeling just that little bit more confident, or wise to a situation, to love themselves more and to be brave.
So many people settle for less, so many people think so little of themselves, and so many people simply don’t know what to do in terms of dating. I may be young, but I, like so many of us, have first-hand-witnessed love in so many forms: where it can be detrimental, amazing or downright heartbreaking. And if just one person can benefit from the wisdom of my experiences, then my mission is accomplished.
