And, on the stroke of midnight on Halloween, not only was the holiday season among us but so was the dreaded "cuffing season." Usually, this would be the time where I would settle in with a cup of warm cider or hot cocoa and wait for all of my friends to get into relationships. However, this year has spawned something new. For once, I'm not alone during cuffing season. For once, I have been cuffed.

This has given me a new perspective on cuffing season and opinions which I would like to share with every cynical single person going through what I've gone through for years.

1. Just because I'm cuffed, doesn't mean I'm happy

I feel like a very popular and very wrong opinion that a lot of people have, is that their life is going to get extraordinarily better just because they get cuffed. For years, I too would sit alone waiting for love or romance, hoping it would aid my troubles. Now that I'm cuffed I can truly say, I'm still depressed AF.

Don't get me wrong, I love my boyfriend and he makes me incredibly happy when I'm with him, but he doesn't alleviate all of the stress that comes with school, work and friendships. I'm a strong believer that you cannot wait around for a man or woman to solve your issues. I also think you cannot expect to be completely happy just because you're in a relationship. It's natural to be sad or angry, even if you're with someone who brings light into your life.

2. I didn't get cuffed because it's cuffing season

I think another common misconception about couples who start dating in late fall is that they got together because they were lonely, desperate or in the "cuffing season spirit." While some people may get together, because they get wrapped up in the fact that others are also getting into relationships, that's not the case for everyone.

3. I'm still the same person

Sometimes when cuffing season starts and a friend gets cuffed, it may feel like you've lost a man in battle. That's not the case! I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for me and I think most other people when I say that just because people get cuffed, doesn't mean they change.

Sure, the relationship itself is a change and they will be around less than before, but they're still there. They're still the friend you know and love, the only difference is that they're in love now.

4. Be understanding

It might be easy to make remarks and cynical tweets about hating people who are in love, but sometimes it hurts us cuffed folks. You might be saying "oh, boo hoo, why are you complaining when you have someone?" But in reality, we've been single too. Not only have we been single, but we've also been single and treated like crap for years too. All we want now is our friends to be happy for us and happy that we found someone who treats us well for once, just as we would do for you.

5. Be happy that you're single

Not enough people appreciate being single in their early adulthood. It seems like so many people are so eager to jump into anything resembling a relationship. I was one of those people. For years I didn't appreciate how freeing and wonderful being single is. You get to focus on yourself, your goals, your wants and needs without the distraction of having to care for someone else.

Even if you do like caring for other people, being single in your early 20's is an amazingly fun experience. Yes, it's hard to watch other people in love sometimes, but don't let that hold you back from growing. I've been single since high school and I've grown so much, even when I didn't realize I was. It gives you time to make mistakes, thrive in life, find your passion and focus on your education or career.

While being in a relationship is great, being single is underrated. It's easy to get cynical during cuffing season, and honestly, I still get grossed out by couples posting pictures on every social media platform. So for this cuffing season, I hope everyone focuses on what truly matters: being happy and eating a crap ton of food over the holidays.