Melissa Persling

What does it mean to 'draft' in a relationship? Melissa Persling shares her experience as part of Stylist's Learn From My Mistakes series.

Melissa Persling has nearly 300 books in her audible library and has amassed 16 badges, including "Marathoner" and "Night Owl," but she doesn't want to brag. When she's not searching for her next book, Melissa writes embarrassing personal essays

I scrubbed, vacuumed and washed. It would be a while before I understood what I was doing.

This writer thought her sleep paralysis was just bad nightmares — until a "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" episode led to a breakthrough realization.

I won a gift card for free Botox when I was 25 and have been getting preventive treatments ever since. At 39, I look younger than my age.

I was in a long-distance relationship and thought I didn't want kids. My boyfriend changed my mind, and then, he broke up with me.

I want to be a tradwife. I used to value my independence, but my twin sister is in a conventional marriage. I see homemaking can give life meaning.

I used to judge women for telling their dates they wanted to have kids early on while dating. Now I'm 39, and I do the same thing.

I've been divorced for nearly 10 years. I still have some fears about marriage, but I'm finally ready for a commitment again.

I'm 38 and suddenly became aware of my age even though I'm mentally young. Now that I'm thinking about aging gracefully, I worry about how I dress.

I wrote about being 38 and single and was called "selfish." Being selfish isn't inherently bad, and those single years made me ready for a partner.

When we heard warnings of a hurricane on our honeymoon in Cancún, we thought staff were being overdramatic. The next day, the we had to evacuate to a cement shelter, where we rode out the storm.

She thought she didn't want a husband or kids but later realized she does. At 38, she fears she's missed her chance at marriage and motherhood.

The author was the maid of honor at her twin's wedding while going through a divorce. It was difficult to fully enjoy the wedding as her own marriage ended.

I was 30 and newly divorced when my twin sister asked me to be her maid of honor. I was a drunken, emotional mess, but luckily my sister understood.

I went on a date with a man and had no idea he was married. Luckily, while at a party, his friend told me the truth. Now I always trust my instincts.

You can be friends with your ex; my ex and I are living proof. We vacation together because we have similar travel styles and still enjoy hanging out.

I dated a man and we had a 28-year age gap. When I met my boyfriend Jim after my divorce, it took us three dates to ask each other how old we were.

According to the Urban Dictionary, “Daddy Issues” Is “When a girl has a messed up relationship with her dad. Usually the father’s fault. Either he left or is acting like ... Read more