Does everyone around you seem to be having the time of their lives with their significant others? Do you feel like you need a special someone in your life to make the sun shine a little brighter?
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there one way or another. But what most people probably won’t tell you is that being single can actually build you into a better person. Want to know why?
1. You know yourself better.
When you spend lots of time with someone, you get to know them better. And when you’re single, you spend lots of time with someone super awesome: yourself. All those dinners, movie dates, trips to the museum, and long commutes you did on your own–they aren’t lonely moments but great opportunities that helped you know who you really are.
2. You don’t rely on another person for happiness.
Now, this doesn’t mean that people in relationships are completely dependent on each other for their happiness. It just means that when you’re single, you are the one discovering for yourself what works and what doesn’t. It’s clear to you why something makes you happy, and why another thing doesn’t, and you know just how to seek out those happy pick-me-ups when you need them.
3. You’re not afraid to try out new things.
Being in a relationship means you have to be mindful in picking out activities that both you and your S.O. can enjoy. But when you’re single, there’s less pressure to make sure that everything you try out has to be super fun and perfect. You’re free to explore, and if things don’t work out well, just charge it to experience. Who knows, giant-knitting just might be your next favorite hobby (and you don’t have to worry about another person cringing about it).
4. You make decisions on your own.
Again, this doesn’t mean people in relationships can’t make decisions without their partner. It’s just that, as a single lady, the answers to life-changing questions such as, “What should I have for dinner?” or “What career should I pursue?” are decided solely by you. It’s great to make mutual decisions with someone you love, but before you do that, you got to learn how to do it on your own first.
5. You set your own path for yourself.
When you’ve already met someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, your life plans also have to be closely intertwined with the other person’s plans. Compromises are part of relationships, but when you’re single, you can still choose the path you want to take. If it leads you to the right person, and meeting this person somehow changes this path that you’re taking, it’s fine. The important thing is, you set out on the direction you wanted for yourself when you started.
