I have only had one relationship in my life. Many look down on me for this fact, and some even pity me. I am not the girl that guys swoon over, and for a long time, this bothered me.

I have come to a time in my life, though, that my relationship status does not affect me. I made the decision to live my life despite my relationship status, and I have never been happier. Being single is OK, and it has taken me many years to come to terms this.

Of course, there are times when I wish I had a significant other, but those times are few and far between.

I have made the conscious decision to avoid romantic relationships. This does not mean that I do not love the idea of love. Many have the misconception that this means I do not want to get married one day, but this could not be further from the truth.

I think the idea of being in a relationship with someone you love is a beautiful experience. I have made this decision not because I do not want to be in love but because for me, right now, I want to focus on the betterment of not only my career but also for the betterment of myself.

Some may say this makes me selfish, but I completely disagree. The reason I have decided not to actively look for a significant other is so that when I do fall in love, or find ‘the one,’ I want to be able to dedicate myself to them fully.

I am not currently in a place with school or with my career that I could possibly do this without making many sacrifices. I am not in a place with myself where I would feel comfortable devoting the time to a relationship that a healthy relationship deserves.

Just because I am dedicated to progressing my career does not mean that I am not open to love or finding ‘the one,’ it simply means I am not actively looking for them. If love came knocking on my door, I would not turn them away.

I feel that to be in a happy, healthy and romantic relationship, you also have to have a healthy relationship with yourself and have happiness within.

It is important to get to know yourself; get to know what you like, what you don’t like. It is immensely important to learn how to be alone.

Many do not know how to be alone without being lonely. Being happy on your own is a skill you have to learn. It is difficult this skill, if not impossible, to learn while in a relationship.

I feel that if you get into a romantic relationship before you are comfortable with who you are then it is less likely that the relationship will be healthy for not only you but the other person as well.

There are exceptions to everything so inevitably there are exceptions to this as well. There have been many occasions when people have gotten more comfortable with themselves once they are in a relationship, but knowing yourself helps your partner know you. It is not uncommon, but it can be challenging.

Many assume that because I am not actively searching for the one that I am closed off from love, but this is not the case at all.

I am not closed off from the prospect of love. If an individual came into my life and I felt the desire the pursue a relationship with them, then I wouldn’t hold myself back or push them away.

Some even assume that I am unhappy because I am single and have remained single for a prolonged period of time; again, this is not the case whatsoever.

I am happy alone.

I am fulfilled on my own.

The time will come when I am ready to be in a relationship, but that time is not now, and that is OK. It is OK if that time hasn't come for you yet either.

It is OK to be single. It is OK to not be looking for 'the one'. It is more than OK to be happy while also being single.