As someone who has been single since day one, I know a little bit about the single life and the benefits of it. Sure, being single means being alone, but being single does NOT mean being lonely. Contrary to popular belief, being single is a beautiful aspect of life that people often neglect. Here are a few reasons why being single is not a deficiency.
1. *Insert cliche about getting to know oneself*
In all seriousness, being without a significant other truly does allow more time to get to know yourself. Some people overlook this because they define themselves as part of someone else, when in reality we are our own people. Instead of being half a person looking for your "other half," be a whole person who looks for another whole. Depending on another human to complete you is not only risky, but can also be painful in the long run. Rather than looking for other flawed people to fill in your gaps and deficiencies, let God complete you and let Him lead you to someone that will complement who you are as a person. And by this I do not mean compliment as in someone who praises you all day, but rather complement as in someone that goes well with you.
2. Having better friends in life
As I mentioned, I have not been in a relationship before. I have, however, been friends with people that are or have been in a relationship. What I have noticed is that, for the most part, people in relationships tend to navigate away from their friends. Whether it is intentional or subconscious, people with a significant other are generally more apt to focus solely on their mate rather than balancing the attention out among the other important people in their life. Let it be noted that by "balance," I do not necessarily mean equally, but rather a relationship that is not unhealthily and negatively affecting the other friendships that the boyfriend or girlfriend has due to a lack of effort. All in all, being single helps strengthen and maintain friendships that could otherwise be severed.
3. Independence
It is not horrible to depend on others; however, if you depend on others too heavily, then what will you do when they are not there? Being single is a gift because it helps you learn how to operate alone. Being single helps you see the beauty in having freedom in decision making and in different ways of living. Basically, being single helps you strengthen your personality for when someone does come along.
Clearly there are also setbacks for being single, but I wanted to focus on the positives because the word "single" generally connotes a negative aspect or deficiency of character when the fact of the matter is that singleness is not a disease. Being single is not something to be afraid of. So until that right girl or guy comes along, do not be afraid to embrace the single life! Make the best of any situation, and do not let the lack of a significant other hold you back from personal growth.
