Being a single Christian is always interesting. For me, I am the 9th wheel of my immediate family.

Yeah.

I have three married sisters and my parents have been happily married for over three decades.

I've heard every joke, been given a ton of (conflicting) advice, and know that my idea of dating is not the college idea of dating. So, if any of this sounds relatable, or at least amusing, here are 7 things I've learned and know to be true.

1) The all too elusive fairy tale.

I've always joked around that the statistics for anything is typically 3 out 4. My three older sisters stole the 3 out of 4 fairy tales for my family.

Seriously though, one of my sisters met her husband working a shift at the mall she had picked up at the last minute. His friends dragged him to the mall, he asked for her number, and she gave it to him. Six months later they're engaged. They've now been happily married for six years.

Of course, I'm not going to take the whole "singlehood" advice from someone with that story.

2) EVERYONE is either married or getting married.

People reading this who aren't around married people all the time probably think I'm going to complain about the sappiness of couples. You're wrong.

Being me, and being around married people means I'm not good with faking my personality or appearance. Most of the married people around me are also parents.

We talk about bodily functions, there is no trying to look cute all the time. Marriage done right is raw and real intimacy. There is literally a time one of my sisters has drooled on her husband's face. That's hilarious.

I don't have it in me to be overtly flirtatious while batting my eyelashes. I want to be blunt and honest, but that's not really popular with dating.

3) Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, thinks they have "the guy" for you.

The ironic thing is, people who know me best don't do this. For one, I hate being set up. I'm really picky and an awkward introvert. Blind dates are literally the worst thing to subject me to (or at least the top 50).

People have your best interest at heart, but no, please no. I have been set up by friends, and given offers from adults at my church, and various work environments. Even when I coached my junior high girls tried to set me up with their older cousins and brothers.

Listen, I'm flattered you think I'm good enough for this great guy you know. Now please leave me alone.

4) You've heard the cliche, "he'll show up when you least expect it."

While, again, well-intentioned, super annoying. My life is pretty amazing. I have eight nieces and nephews that are the cutest human beings ever. I have a best friend and a handful of good friends in my life. My family is super weird mainly because we actually like each other. Basically, I stopped looking a while ago. Still single and fabulous. Shut up.

5) You've seen relationships and marriages turn ugly, and it makes you increasingly picky.

Because WE ALL deserve someone better than Bill Clinton (except Hillary and maybe Bella Swan).

For sure marry someone who is your best friend, just make sure they know that means fidelity and not treating you like crap.

6) When you do "catch the feels," your first reaction is "well crap"

7) ...because the odds of them liking you back can be rounded to a grand total of 0%.

This will go away, this will go away, this will go away.

But in the end, you don't mind being single. Being single allows you to build confidence based on who you are rather than what others think of you. You know who you are and what you believe, and that's more than most people can say.