I like Lillys better than roses.

I don't eat red meat.

I only like plastic hangers.

My family and friends tell me I am an extremely picky person.

There are many types of "being picky." You could be picky about what you eat, be picky about where your clothes come from, be picky about what music you listen to, but one thing that people are not picky enough about is the people which they are in relationships with.

As a female in her late teens/early twenties, I often get asked, "why don't you have a boyfriend," or "don't you know how close 'real' life is, you better get one while you have options?"

Well, are you aware of how many divorces I've witnessed? Are you aware of how toxic relationships can be when they're forced? I am. I am also aware of how many options I do have.

I've seen people that have only ever been with each other be nothing but miserable. I've witnessed divorces where comments like, "I only stayed with him because we had kids," are made. I watched my best friend sit in a toxic relationship for almost seven year because she was afraid to start over. I, myself, fought for a guy that broke my heart because I was scared no one would ever love me again.

I've seen all this, and I do know how many options I have out in the world. So, at nineteen years old, I've decided to be picky. I decided that I am not going to settle.

"You're going to end up alone."

GOOD!

I might end up alone. But I will not stand by unhappy because "I have too."

I have the right to kick a man to the curb because he ties his shoes funny or because of the way he chews his gum. Yes, I get that "if you love someone, you'll forgive their habits." But, you don't have to sacrifice your happiness for that person. I don't have to settle for anything. No one does.

Whether you're single, married, or in a relationship (long-term or not), whether you're in high school, college, late thirties, or early seventies; we all deserve to be happy. Life is to short to not be picky.