Dear Fellow Single Ladies,

I am one of you, and I am proud to be a part of the greatest club on earth. We might be at different stages of being single: freshly single, been single for what feels like forever, halfway single, never dated before, but I'm here to tell you that being single is okay, more than okay actually, and it's not something to be ashamed of. Being single for an extended period of time is beneficial, especially in our young age and it teaches us so many things that we will need for the duration of our lifetime.

Being single gives us time to truly understand who we are as an individual. If you have been in a relationship before that person may have taught you a few things about yourself, but when you are single you have no one to influence the way you think or act; it's all you. You will learn how to take care of your needs on your own: emotional, mental, physical. There will be no one to help you through your tough days or praise you on your best days. If you ask me, there is greater satisfaction in helping yourself anyway. You will also learn through being single what you are interested in: relationships with friends and family, religious beliefs, political views, different aspects of culture. Everyday is a learning experience about yourself. By learning about yourself you will find what attributes you value in another person as well. If you love to laugh you'll value someone's sense of humor. If you have certain religious beliefs you are passionate about, it will be refreshing to find someone who shares those beliefs.

Not only do you learn about yourself, but you have endless amounts of time to spend on yourself. You get to plan everyday without worrying about someone else's schedule. If you want to go to the gym at 4:30, you go to the gym. If you want to spend your entire Saturday in bed reading a novel, you stay in bed and read. Your day can't be interrupted by "wanna Netflix and chill tonight?" And honestly...Netflix and chill is not a real date anyway. Spend your time doing things that you actually want to do and make you happy with yourself. At a certain point, you will find someone that your life will eventually revolve around. Until then, pamper yourself and orbit around what you need and what you want. Being single is nothing to sit in your room and cry about, it's a fun time to go out and meet new friends and make memories on your own.

Being in college is not the right time for a significant other. You are paying large sums of money to get a degree and prepare for your future. This aspect makes me SO EXCITED. In my opinion, I'd rather obsess over where I want to intern for the summer than a person who might break my heart. Building a future that you are in love with will bring you love in other aspects of your life. Who knows if you and your S/O will even want to move to the same city after graduation? You can't start building your life around someone else, because if it crumbles, you'll be left with nothing. Building yourself a strong foundation will ensure that no matter what life throws at you, in relationships and other aspects, you will be okay and will be able to rebuild.

If there is one thing you need to remember it's this: you can't love someone else until you love yourself. That doesn't mean just who you are, it's what you're doing with your life, how you feel about certain topics, what activities bring you happiness. The greatest love you will ever experience is your love for yourself, and don't let anyone tell you different.

Sincerely,

A Single Life Lover