Young love is indeed sweet love. Oftentimes, first love is a memory that we cannot forget. First love is like a kite flying in the rain. It gets weighed down by so many emotions and experiences that in time, we cannot hold on to it anymore. It's very difficult to get rid of those feelings, especially if the relationship is so perfect and secure. Just about everything reminds you of the person you once called your sweetheart.

There's the restaurant where you had your first date, that tree where you had your first kiss, the many places where you shared many meaningful and magical moments together. You walk out to a rainy day, thinking you've finally gotten over the worst of a breakup. Yet as you hold your head up high, without a care in the world, you realize that you're hoping for the raindrops to hide the tears falling from your eyes.

You don't have to be so harsh on yourself just because you have feelings for your ex. Here are some ways to grow out of young love, but still make your way back into sweet love.

The Breakup Must Be Clear

Most people have feelings for their exes because the breakup was vague. You may have heard lines like these from your ex when you broke up:

• “It's not you, it's me.”
• “You're so perfect, I don't deserve you. You deserve someone better.”
• “When I said everything was OK, I only said it to make you happy. To be honest, I need space.”

If there's no clear reason why you broke up, then chances are you'll still be longing for your ex. The soonest that you break up, both of you should settle on a reason that both of you can accept. All breakups happen for a reason. Don't settle for the conventional breakup lines that will have you waking up crying in the middle of the night calling out your ex's name. Once you have a clear reason for the break-up, then you would have no problems in the future about having feelings for your ex.

Take Time for Closure, Take What's Coming

Some people think that they can distract themselves from their feelings by working harder at the office, taking different routes home, or burning every picture and memento they have for their ex. It doesn't help to distract yourself. One thing you can never get rid of is your feelings for someone who you shared some precious, intimate moments with.

Closure is the only way to get rid of your feelings for your ex. Breakups often lead to so many questions left unanswered about your relationship, and your true feelings for each other. Take your time; you don't have to rush things. One day you and your ex are going to cross paths and talk about the love you once shared. Go have some coffee, have a conversation over dinner, take a walk in the park, and talk about your relationship.

When you do get the time to have a closure talk, you have to prepare yourself for a few things:

• That you'll remain just friends. Not too many people have a friendly, cordial relationship with their exes. A treasured friendship is often more important and more rewarding than an intimate romantic relationship.
• That there's no chance for you to be together again. Sometimes you have to settle for the fact that there's no more love between you to share. You may have been betrayed, or the spark between the both of you has died down. When this happens, you'll have to settle on the fact that you can't do anything about feelings that are not your own.
• That you'll be back together. Maybe you and your ex are sharing a story right out of the script of a teen love story with a happy ending. No matter what you do or what you fight about, you may seem perfect for each other, and you're destined to be together for all eternity. When you know deep in your heart that you're meant for each other, enjoy the ride.

Closure is not meant to be rushed. Both of you need to be emotionally prepared to face each other and talk about something serious. Remember: both of you shared a past together that you can never undo. There will come a time that you'll be able to settle your differences.

Let The Wounds Heal

It's very tempting to date immediately after you lose a relationship, especially if you feel that having a new significant other can help you mend your broken heart. Romantic relationships require mature emotions, a clear mind, and your ability to give it your all.

A rebound significant other is one of the worst things you can do to yourself and to everyone around you:

• You're only hurting yourself. If you take to a new relationship just to patch up that empty space in your heart, you'll only end up in pain. First, love is a commitment; it's not a way to disguise your insecurities. Second, you're only fooling yourself into thinking that you need a significant other to love to be a complete person.
• You're hurting other people's feelings. Even your rebound significant other has feelings. A rebound means that you're only using him or her as a way to make your ex feel jealous, or to forget about your ex. No one likes the feeling of being used.
• You're not doing anything about the problem. Rebounds are like alcohol; they soothe the pain, but they don't cure the pain. The only way that you could get rid of those feelings you have for your ex is to wait until you get that time to talk.

There's Always a Special Place for Love

No matter what you do to completely erase the memories of your ex from your mind, he or she will always share a special place in your heart. You shared so many good memories and fantastic experiences, and those are the feelings that you should never let go. Even if you've already drifted away and went your separate paths, your ex will always be the person who, at a point in his or her life, shared life and love with you.

Think of those memories as lessons and treasures you can learn from and hold important in your next relationship. You can always look back at those memories as a way to improve your life and the way you love.

Like every kite, love sometimes flies so low that you can no longer appreciate it, or flies so high that you have to let the string go. Sometimes the best thing you can do about your feelings for your ex is to just let those memories fly off to the skies, knowing that you would no longer be weighed down by the rain as you move on.