Most single people HATE the thought of being a third wheel. For them, it just puts their single-ness on public display. It can also be awkward just riding along on a couple's date, because you're sure to be third wheeling on a fight or two at some point.

I'm a self-proclaimed professional third wheel. I've been single for nearly two years now, and many of my friends are in relationships where they spend a lot of time with their significant other. Instead of just completely leaving me out of the picture, my friends have been gracious enough to frequently invite me along for their night out to the bars with their boyfriend or just out to dinner with them.

At first, it was awkward—I'll admit it. I didn't even know this person, so why was I have personal conversations with my best friend over Chili's pasta with them right there? With time, however, I've grown used to my third-wheel role, and I can honestly say I love it.

Being a third wheel has given me the opportunity to become friends with my taken friend's significant others. Instead of just knowing of them by a casual hello every now and then and watching an Instagram documentation of their relationship, I get to form a relationship with my friends' partners. And who says more friends are a bad thing? In fact, I consider my best friend's former boyfriend a good friend of mine—he knows more about me than many of my gal pals do and I wouldn't have even got the opportunity to know him if it wasn't for my professional third wheeling.

I'm also MUCH more involved in my friend's relationship when I'm frequently third wheeling. I know all of their partner's little quirks that drive them crazy. Since I spend so much time around and get to know their partner pretty well, I'm a much better help when it comes to giving out that frequently asked for relationship advice.

The biggest reason I love being a third wheel, though, is because I get to experience being in a relationship without actually being in one. I get to see all the cute moments, the fun dates, and the happy times. And although these moments aren't really mine, they're unfolding right in front of my eyes and I'm along for the ride. But with this, I also get to experience the dark side of a relationship—fights, breakups, getting back together, although this doesn't necessarily happen when I'm third wheeling on a date to the movies, like I said earlier I'm much more involved than just a causal friend. Being along for the ride in every aspect of the relationship without actually being in the relationship gives me mixed emotions—some moments I wish I had my own person to ride the ferris wheel with, and then they get in a random fight during a car ride home and I'm reminded why I'm better off single.

Next time you're invited to third wheel with a friend and their S.O., I highly encourage you take the opportunity! It's only a negative, awkward, public display of your singleness if you make it that. If you approach it like you're just hanging out with two friends, you'll soon realize why I'll always say yes to third wheeling.