Heartbreak, Healing, and Showing Up Anyway
Some stories spill out in pieces. Ricky Liorty’s poured out in poetry, journal entries, therapy sessions, and TikTok captions that reached millions. Before his book, before the viral quotes, before he flew to New York to record this episode, he was just a guy scribbling emotions on Post-its because a therapist once told him to try journaling. Now he is someone who turns pain into purpose and heartbreak into a roadmap for others.
Writing Through the Break Instead of Running From It
When the love he thought was his forever ended, Ricky didn’t numb out or disappear. He wrote. Sometimes two poems a day, sometimes ten. What started as survival became a book meant to help anyone navigating love, loss, or the brutal work of rebuilding self-worth. He didn’t plan to become an author. He planned to stay alive through the deepest heartbreak he’d had in five years.
Therapy, Masculinity, and Letting Yourself Fall Apart
Ricky’s first therapy session was exactly what most people fear: 60 minutes of uncontrollable crying and two minutes of scheduling. He wasn’t raised to talk about feelings. He played sports, pushed through pain, and carried his own shame around past mistakes. Therapy taught him the opposite. It taught him that being seen doesn’t kill you. It taught him accountability without self-hatred. It taught him that being strong and being vulnerable are not enemies.
The Moment All the Pillars Fell
He describes life like a house made of pillars: family, work, friendships, health. When one collapses, you stay standing. When they all collapse, you break. That was the day he called his mom and said, “I’m not okay.” It was also the day he unknowingly took the first step toward the version of himself he is now.
Heartbreak That Wasn’t “Just Social Media”
When his most recent love ended, even his closest friends assumed he’d brush it off. After all, he has followers, opportunities, and attention. But heartbreak doesn’t care about optics. He told the truth: “I thought this was my person.” That honesty changed how the people closest to him showed up. Vulnerability opened doors he didn’t even know were locked.
Perseverance as a Personality Trait, Not a Buzzword
Through every story, every metaphor, every confession, one theme kept resurfacing: perseverance. It’s the word he wrote over and over in his journals without even realizing it. It shaped his dating life, friendships, career, and sense of purpose. He doesn’t claim special talents. What he does claim is this: he will always get back up.
Dating With Intention, Not Convenience
Ricky believes first dates should feel like possibilities, not errands. Long dates, real connection, real effort. He’d rather weed out 20 mismatches than dim himself to seem more “reasonable.” His best first date? A fully planned 72-hour adventure that still makes him smile, even though the relationship didn’t last. Because dating, to him, is about authenticity, not efficiency.
Self-Love Before Soulmates
He believes there isn’t one soulmate, but many potential perfect fits, and he won’t risk the 99 percent of his life that feels full for someone who doesn’t match that last one percent. But when he feels it, he’ll risk everything. Because real love requires real stakes.
The Reminder I Hope You Carry
Ricky left us with one message: be kinder to yourself. Stop beating yourself up for not being “further along.” Stop thinking anyone is watching your every move. They’re not. Not in the way you fear, but in the way that frees you. You deserve love, rest, and gentleness, even on the days when getting out of bed is the win.
Heartbreak may shape you, but perseverance, self-love, and honesty are what rebuild you. And if his story proves anything, it’s that showing up for yourself, even in the darkest moments, is the beginning of everything good.
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