I used to spend nights by myself, sobbing because nobody had a crush on me. All my friends had boyfriends. People always told my friends that they were cute, but no one ever said things like that to me. Then I decided that dating in high school was irrational; these relationships rarely lasted long enough to be worth it. And who wants to willingly deal with someone else's emotions as well as your own? This latter point particularly resonates because there was a period of time in my life when one person's emotions affected how I felt, regardless of what was actually happening in my life. Now, I have a mix of those feelings, and then a third, overwhelming feeling: content.

I am content with not dating anyone. I am content with being fiercely single, and yet sometimes wanting someone to cuddle with or a partner with whom to fight life's battles. I am fine with watching other people in relationships. Jealousy and despair do crash down on my head from time to time, but there is something I've learned that makes this pain bearable: you go to bed crying, yet wake up in the morning just like every other day and feel fine.

Relationships do not have to be romantic to matter.

I love fiercely and care for my friends. I care for them and about them, and I truly love them. I do not need to feel an urge to put my mouth on their mouth for it to matter. I forget this, of course. I feel lonely when all my beautiful, talented and lovely friends are all dating someone else, and I'm chairman of the "Single Pringle Committee", but then I remember that I can always count on my best friends for a date. That's why we hang out at Waffle House or make Taco Bell runs, only to go back home to watch YouTube all night. I love each girl and guy I call my friend. And yes, some of them I wouldn't mind kissing, but in the event that doesn't happen, I might as well enjoy the fun and weird things we do to entertain ourselves.

I know my worth is not defined by what a man thinks about me. It would be wonderful if someone would walk up and tell me, "Hi, I like you, and maybe we could go do a thing sometime", because that sounds nice. It's also equally wonderful to be wildly and unashamedly embarrassing with your best friends.

We as humans have this need to be appreciated, and there is a craving to be found attractive and what not. However, I refuse to accept that the only relationship that matters is one that culminates an awkward kiss. But that's just me.