It is 3 a.m., I cannot sleep and as I am scrolling down Facebook I just saw another “I hate being single post." Ugh. Let me break it down to you all real quick, I can only speak for myself, but being single is a good thing to me. I am a pro at it, I have done it for about 21 years now. Being single has so many negative connotations to it such as: life is lonely, you are not attractive or you are being punished. We have got to stop thinking this way, what if you are single because the person that you are meant to be with is not ready at the moment?

I will be honest, I am at a point in my life that I will not date someone that I do not see a future with. I am a girl who loves people so passionately that sometimes I forget that I deserve to be loved too, even by myself. I finally have started to love myself genuinely, flaws and all. Getting into a relationship takes patience and understanding, both of which I have but as of right now, I have accepted the fact that being single is OK. Guess what? My relationship status will never define me. I am so focused on my goals and dreams, and I am super passionate about school and work and creating the best life I can for myself.

Honestly, I would be a lot to handle. My past is tragic, at times I feel broken and incomplete, and I am super hard on myself; so yes I fear that a man would decide that I am not worth his time and too much of a mess to love. Here’s the thing--I love me enough for myself and anyone else that ever could, so if someone should decide that I am too much of a mess or “too broken,” rest assure that someday someone will decide to clean up my mess and piece me back together.

The real deal is I am single because after such a long time in life I know my worth and I know what I deserve. I deserve more than an average guy who cares about cars, and materialistic things more than me. I deserve a man who knows my heart, intentions and flaws and loves me all the more because of it. I deserve more than the guys in my inbox who start conversations like “whatsup ma?" Hold on-- pause.

First things first I am not your “ma” “mami” or your “mamita” but one day when the time is right I will be called “Mom” by my children and they will not be from anyone who starts a conversation like that—sorry sir.

I truly feel that I currently would not be able to invest all of my time into someone else right now because I am busy living my life for me, and let us face it that is not fair to anyone. You do not need someone to make you feel whole, or loved, you can do that yourself. Seeing happy couples does not make me envious, in fact quite the opposite, it makes me wish that someday I too will be lucky to engage and experience true love. I know so many people who are serial daters, and while I am not judging it truly makes me wonder if they noticed that they have not taken time for themselves. I refuse to just date a guy, I want to share a love so deep that the ocean is jealous. I have to find a man who understands me more than I understand myself. I will not just settle down with someone who I feel is temporary in my life, time cannot be given back and life is too short to not do things intentionally. This is not to say that if a man shares an affection toward me I will not give it shot, I am all about taking chances and hoping for the best.

This generation is full of many of my own peers getting married and having children currently, newsflash it was their time, it is not currently mine. All in due time more blessings will come. Do not look down at single people as if they are the ones missing out, being single is a positive time in life, (even if it lasts 21 years like me). If I cannot even be content with myself, I will never be content being someone else’s. Being single is not the end of the world, it is the beginning of a beautiful journey of self-love, respect, and realization. So, no I do not have a boyfriend and to be honest, I am happily single until the right moment and person comes along because I know that God has already created the person that I am meant to be with and yes, it is worth waiting for. Besides, being single my entire life gives me such great practice that when the time finally does come to be in a relationship, I will be extra ready.