We all have that person in our life who can't seem to manage to stay out of a relationship. Whether this person be a girl friend, guy friend, or ex, they just can't seem to live the single-pringle life for pretty much any span of time. It can seem baffling. Believe me, I know. I also know that it can become difficult to justify your own singleness; especially at family parties, when you are continually asked if you have a significant other yet and you're all:
Yeah... I get it. It is so easy to start believing that there's something wrong with you. I find that this is one of the reasons that people start relationships that don't work out: thinking that to be single means there's something wrong with you. People get into relationships because they are bored, enjoy the attention, getting over someone else or unsure of who they are and are therefore uncomfortable with being alone. I am not uncomfortable being alone. I am single by choice and that is perfectly okay. Let me tell you why.1. I live on my own time.
I am responsible purely for myself. There is no worrying about if my significant other—are they ok? What are they up to? Should I brighten their day? You knows who's day I'm brightening today? Mine. My own. I eat when I want. I don't do homework when I should. I talk with whomever. I take care of me, and that's awesome.
2. I can be as hideous as I want. Always.
I can be in comfy clothes for the night and have all the crumbs in my bed that I want. I feel comforted by those crumbs. No one is going to take that away from me.
3. I can invest in new friendships.
Not being in a relationship opens up the possibility to really get to know other people. I love having the chance to spend a random hour or two with a person I've just met. I can give my full attention to other individuals without thinking about anyone else in the equation other than myself. I have been able to grow from these new encounters and would rather pursue them than rush into a relationship just for the sake of being in a relationship.
4. There is no stupid fighting that I have to deal with.
There is something beautiful about not being that couple in the group that is having some sort of issue one night. I have no expectations or disappointment in anyone and can therefore just purely enjoy the time I have with my group of friends. I have no concern for anyone else in the group romantically, and that's pretty awesome.
5. I shave for me.
But let's be real, I don't shave.6. I eat whatever I want. And don't need to share it.
I can plow through an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups on my own. So what if I'm a little bloated? The only person who would know is me, and I love my food-baby because I know how delightful the journey to achieve it was. When I go through a drive-thru, I can be confident that I will actually get to consume all of the food that I purchase without worrying about anyone mooching off of it.
7. My bank account thrives
I don't need to worry about Christmas, birthday, Valentine's Day, Easter, anniversaries, or "thinking of you" presents. Unless I want to get something to treat myself, which I freaking do. Why? Because I can. I have the money for it now.8. I have an opportunity to find myself
I have such a great opportunity to grow and learn about myself when I do not have to place anyone else in the equation. My focus is on myself. I love being able to find things that I like to do, find beauty in myself, and learn about how I view the world. I just need to think about my own dreams and aspirations and there is nothing holding me back from that.
So to my fellow single-pringles: do not let your lack of relationship define who you are. You have such an awesome opportunity to focus on being the best you that you can be. Invest in others, learn about things that interest you, travel, grow, and know that it is okay to be single. If you find someone who makes your heart sing and your insides tickle, by all means, go for it. You do not, however, need to be someone you aren't for the sake of being in a relationship. There is so much more to you than that.
