Being Single For A Long Amount Of Time Taught Me These 16 Things

Oct 11, 2018 by apost team

With so many dating apps dominating the market, romantic Netflix and shipping culture, it's no wonder so many of us have gotten obsessed with the pursuit of finding someone. But being single deserves a lot more credit than it's given. 

Here are 16 takeways I've learned from being single for a long time.

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1. Being single will always be better than entering a relationship for the wrong reasons. Loneliness shouldn't be your primary reason for being with someone.

2. Just because you've been single for a long time doesn't mean you haven't had your heart broken. Maybe that friend you had a crush on and thought you had a shot with started dating someone else out of the blue, or the person you gave your number to last week never texted.

We all get hurt, and you don't have to be actively dating or even close to a relationship to do so.

3. Relationship statuses don't mean anything. Forget what your nagging aunt says when she hounds you about your love life every Thanksgiving. Kindly assure anyone who pries that you might be single, but you're still happy.

4. Being lonely on your own is still way better than feeling that way next to your significant other.

5. Alone time teaches you how to be more independent, understand your emotions better and make decisions because they're right for you, not anyone else.

6. Keep the past in the past, no matter how fond of it you might be. Exes are exes for a reason.

7. Being single has nothing to do with your attractiveness or worth. You aren't unlovable or ugly. You just haven't met the right person yet.

8. The more time you spend on your own, the less you fixate on the idea of being in a relationship. It's liberating when you finally stop pining for the validation of a partner and are able to be happy on your own.

9. Marriage isn't the biggest or best thing to pursue. There are plenty of other milestones that are equally great to chase after. You don't need a ring on your finger to be successful.

10. You're never really alone. You have family, friends, neighbors and heck, even coworkers. If your social circle is small, take some time to reach out and get to know more people. Potential friendships really are all around you.

11. Never lower your standards just so you can be in a relationship. If you constantly have to explain away someone's actions or look past flaws to date them, they aren't the one for you.

12. No matter how comfortable and content you are with being single, there will be pangs of jealousy. You aren't failing at being single just because you sometimes wish you were part of a couple.

13. Many people will reject you. And there are many who won't. But you only need to find that one person who thinks of you as their dream girl or guy to be happy.

14. Your family and friends already love you just as much as any partner could.

15. Love isn't a competition, and it can't be predicted. Some people find their soulmates in high school, and others don't meet the love of their life until they're in their forties.

16. Some of the most beautiful, intelligent people in the world are single. You are one of them.

Have you been single for a while? Did you just come out of a relationship? Tell us your thoughts about singlehood and if you find this article helpful, don't forget to pass it to your other single friends.