I've recently been hearing a lot about being single from a variety of sources. In college, more than 85 percent of students will be single at least once during their college careers. Okay, that number was completely made up but, you get my point; most people in college experience being single at least once.
As someone who's been single his whole life, with zero serious relationships, I may not have personal experience in the matter; however, I believe this gives me a fresh and different perspective on this whole thing we call romance.
It's okay to be single right now.
Or frankly, it's okay to be single period. However, most of us have heard, even before inception, that there is someone "out there" who is going to "complete you" and be your "soul mate". Somewhere along the road, this became the norm and being single and in your late teens and early twenties became a mortal sin. For some reason, a stigma towards single young adults developed saying:
"Oh! You're single? Well, how come? We better find you a man/girl, then!"
People automatically assume that single people either
1. Have had "bad luck" with relationships
2. Have commitment/parental issues
3. Are "unlovable" or are too high maintenance
4. Aren't attractive enough
Or, my personal favorite:
5. Need a significant other to find their own significance.
So, why are some people "actually" single?
Who? Cares?
Frankly, people's love lives are of no concern for other people. Unless a person decides to share the intimate details of their love life with trusted family members or friends, people need to stop filling in the blanks for people's lives.
Being single in college is not wrong and definitely doesn't mean something is wrong with you. People's love stories are all different; no two are alike. Who's to say that a 19-year-old girl has to be dating just because she's young, energetic and thriving. Just because someone has youth on their side does not automatically enroll them in "Dating 101."
Youth is, in many ways, a privilege and how each person decides to use it is up to them. Maybe they're in college to get a degree and make some awesome friends. Maybe they don't want to have to worry about dating right now. Our society has trained us to always be searching for the next romance. The next fling. The next hookup (regardless of what your definition of "hooking up" is). When we idolize these ideals, as opposed to simply enjoying where we are in life, we feel like we're always missing out on something. But, that's not always the case.
There is, literally, so much you can do/benefits you can have when you're single... Here's, like, four things:
1. Travel without limits, obligations or concern for anyone but moi.
2. It's cheaper.
3. Your free time is all yours.
4. Options. Just...limitless options.
To all my single folk:
Enjoy being single! There's less pressure and it includes a plethora of privileges. If, by chance, you happen to encounter a breathtaking woman or a handsome man and a romance buds, by all means, go for it! If not, don't fret. Take each day as it comes because there's so much more to life for you to see and experience.
I'll leave y'all with a nugget of wisdom I've recently heard:
It's better to be single and wish you weren't than for you to be dating/engaged/married and wish you weren't.
Enjoy where you are in life and don't stress about trying to "cure" your singleness. You're awesome, regardless.
Cheers,
ZER
