Being single can be hard. Trust me, I know. It is hard to see couples around you enjoying being in relationships and being affectionate towards each other when you don’t have that outlet. It is hard to not have a special somebody to tell about your day. It is hard to pretend that it doesn’t bother you.

Being single sucks. But amidst all the difficulty and suckiness of being single, maybe we can find a little bit of solace in the journey of being single.

Hear me out: There are lots of things you can do when you’re single that you may not want to do if you were in a relationship. You can dye your hair crazy colors, you can take a spontaneous weekend trip abroad, you can adopt a cat. Granted, you may also be able to do these things while in a relationship, but in the instance in which you are single, the idea is to not have to check in with someone every time you make a decision.

Certain other things that happen when you are single are, you get to learn more about yourself. This may sound like a nightmare to some of you, but for someone who has been single for quite a while, I can attest to the fact that I have learned more about myself while taking time off from dating than I ever did in a relationship. This does not mean I didn’t enjoy being in relationships, I just got to know myself – and love myself – more than when I did inside of relationships. It is important to be as devoted to yourself as you are the person you are dating.

So, my friends, next time you’re left without a dance partner, remember that it is okay to be single, and it is okay to find out who you are first.