It’s been one year since I started writing my dating column. Since then, you’ve all been witness to the trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs my love life has endured. Much like New Year’s Eve, a one-year anniversary is the perfect time to look back and reflect.

One of the biggest things that happened was that I finally — FINALLY — got over my college ex, Jay. Seeing as I had spent almost all of 2007 and the first part of 2008 trying to get over him (and contemplating getting back together with him) it was a momentous occasion when I realized that I really had moved on. (I knew I was over him when he called to ask for girl advice and the thought of him with someone else didn’t make me want to throw up or cry.)

It was after that that I noticed my love life started to pick up. Maybe I just had to be ready to let go of Jay before I could even think about dating someone new. I don’t know, but from mid July to about December I had a fairly steady stream of romantic interests.

That included Sam, the guy I met at the beginning of August. He would become my first real boyfriend since Jay. We both knew we weren’t looking for anything serious, since he had just broken up with a long-term girlfriend a few months before. Unfortunately, I discovered that it’s hard for me to do casual dating, and our nice, easy relationship had a very complicated and dramatic ending.

From there, I had a few random flirtations and flings. New Year’s Eve found me still single, but hopeful. And then, lo and behold, I met someone. A special someone.

Jake and I had the best first date I’d ever been on. I hadn’t clicked with someone so well since I had met Jay in college. He was everything I’d been looking for, and I was confident I was on my way to falling in love.

But things don’t always turn out the way you plan. Jake broke up with me when he realized that he hadn’t dealt with some issues surrounding his break-up with his ex-fiancee. Big lesson learned: Timing is everything, and if someone isn’t ready for a relationship, it’s not going to happen.

So I’ve learned some important things about dating, and myself, over the past year. But I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that no matter how many times dating and the single life knocks you on your butt, you just have to stay positive and keep trying. It’s the only way you’ll make it through alive. That, and having a very good sense of humor.