For the past month now, I've been single. I haven't been single for a long time, which is really funny because I live by the saying "single life strong." I've been in relationships on/off for the past five years and I'm finally deciding to take a stance and actively pursue happiness as an individual. Relationships are great and all, but it's so important to make time for yourself and self-reflection/growth. Yet I neglected my own health and needs for so long for the past few years. Now that I find myself single yet again, I've decided that it's time for a change and a break from relationships. So why choose single life?

Single life opens up so many doors. For me personally, it allowed me to step back from everything as focus on myself more. It allowed me to have more time for work, friends, school, and so much more. I managed to pick up more work shifts, make deeper connections with the friends I had, and study more. I'm not saying that you can't have all of these things when in a relationship, however trying to balance all of these things while in a relationship is honestly so hard. I would be struggling to make time to talk to my significant other and also manage to see my friends and that wasn't fair to anyone, but especially to me.

The freedom that single life provides is what appealed to me the most. I am free to go to parties and have no kind of curfew. I don't need to answer to anybody or have anyone worry about me. I can talk to whomever I want, whenever I want, however I want. Basically, I fulfill the whole who, what, where, when, why, and how. It's not like I'm trying to find people to date or be in a relationship with, but if I wanted to, the option is open to me. I can create friendships with anyone and anyone without having to worry about a boyfriend being suspicious of me cheating or anything. I'm free to do as I please and I'm so happy to have this freedom. Also, now I have the freedom to accumulate more piercings, get tattoos, and dye my hair without having to worry about pleasing conservative in-laws, so that's a plus.

I finally have time. I have time to be alone and watch movies and cook and spend time with my guy friends. I go to the gym in the mornings, class in the afternoon, and work in the evenings. I have a close circle of friends who I call "the bros" and we have weekly hangouts. Whether it be watching movies, eating dinner together, or just spending time in the dorms, we always make an effort to meet up weekly. I used to be afraid that my boyfriend would get the wrong idea or I would feel guilty for spending time with others. But now I don't need to worry about it anymore. I can be free to spend time with my bros and I'm so happy. Bros before hoes, always.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being single. It's a mature choice that requires a lot of self-reflection and independence, but I think it's extremely important and healthy in the long run. Single life allows you to realize just how much of a bomb human being you are on your own. You as a person, as an individual, not as *insert name here*'s boyfriend/girlfriend. And after a while, you'll realize that you're pretty damn great on your own and you don't need a significant other for validation or happiness because you can get all of that on your own. So live your best life, whether it be in a relationship or on your own. But for all my single ladies/lads, cheers to single life.