OK, so at the time of writing this rant (August 2000) I have been single
(not in a committed relationship) for close on a year, and have not dated
anyone in six months, and you know what?
I LIKE IT.
Yes, that's right, folks, I like being single. And I have been wondering
just exactly why it is that our society is so obsessed with the need to be
in a romantic relationship. Not that romantic relationships aren't great -
they definitely can be - but sometimes they're not what you need.
Sometimes you need or want to be alone, to focus on yourself, to learn
more about who you are. Or maybe there just isn't anyone you're interested
in being involved with.
Why, if you are single, do people always make the assumption that you
would rather be in a relationship, and that you just need to meet the
"right" person?
I'm sure I will be in relationships again [Later note: Yup.], and
I'm sure they will be great and wonderful and I will say to myself, "Self,
this is really the right thing for me to be doing right now." Which is as
it should be. Because at this moment, being single, I'm saying to myself,
"Self, being single is really the best way for me to be right now."
Sometimes it is just good to be getting what you can out of your
friendships, your work, your faith, whatever else you do with your life -
and to be doing all of these things without a partner. Sometimes it's a
transitional thing (where, for example, you're going through a lot of
changes and need to do it alone), or sometimes it's a permanent choice
that you may want to make for your life. But either way, I think being
single should be honored as an equally valid choice to being in a
relationship.