The other day, I was working another day in retail and an older man asked me if I had a boyfriend. When I responded with no, he felt the need to lecture me-- as if this was an awful quality.
Sure, I'd love to be in a relationship, when I meet the right person, but for now I am focusing on the positive aspects of being single.
Here are five improvements I've made while being single:
1. I budget my money more effectively
When I was in a relationship, I was impulsive when it came to spending money. I would splurge on dates, or felt the need to always do nice things for my significant other. I was also unable to work as many hours because my relationship was more of a priority, so naturally that would often lead to stress when it was time to pay bills.
Now that my eyes are no longer clouded with lustful goggles, I am more organized, and have learned to manage my finances which is a huge weight off my shoulders.
2. I have learned how to bounce back
Being single has given me the opportunity to dip my toes in the gray area between "friendship" and "relationship". Most of the time I would get hurt, but what I learned from these experiences is that the more times you get hurt, the better you get at finding the light at the end of the tunnel.
3. I have developed strong friendships
I have been in relationships that consumed all my personal time, as well as, boyfriend's that didn't approve of my friends. Being single has given me the freedom to meet new people and to spend time nurturing those friendships.
4. I have learned to accept myself
I used to hide my insecurities behind the shadows of my relationships. I felt that if one person loved me enough to call me their own, I was worth something. So after crumbling and falling apart-- relationship, after relationship-- I am learning to love myself and that insecurity is slowly turning into security.
5. I have learned how to take care of myself
I used to hate being alone, but now being alone is something I look forward to. I love having the freedom to practice music and not feeling like I'm being judged for the amount of time I spend doing so. I love reflecting on my days while doing cardio. I love just sitting down and writing about what's on my mind, working through everything on my own.
It's not that I don't like people, I love the company of others-- I just don't need to be surrounded by others to feel complete anymore-- and that's the most empowering feeling.
