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What's So Great About Being Single?

There are those of us who seem happy to be single. There are those of us who seem tragically unhappy to be single. To each their own.

But really, I question how many single people actually enjoy being single, how many of us have other reasons—such as shyness or laziness—that keep us from enjoying the company of a mate. Once the habit of loneliness sinks in, it becomes convenient to justify it rather than change it. The Darwinians among us would say that pretty much everyone without a mate is seeking a mate, and I can’t disagree, especially in the long term.

So is anybody out there really happy being single? If so: why? What about being single is superior to being in love? @TrevorSoul

Name 3 Virtues of Being Single

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I love this question ! As a single woman, by choice, it seems that "I do not wish to be in a relationship at this point in my life" isn't a reasonable answer...there must be some deep psychological meaning behind it (daddy issues, etc)...not just "I like being single". I don't have problems meeting men, so if I REALLY wanted to bein a relationship,I would just do that. It seems like society has this idea that the be all or end all to a woman's happiness is to have companionship, but that can come in many other forms.

When I think about my future, marriage/kids NEVER enters the picture. My ideal situation is to come home to an empty house to be left alone with my routine and not have anyone else get in the way of how I enjoy living my life and holding me back from what I want to do. IF I ever changed my mind in the future, I shall be with someone I truely connect with, not just be with someone for the sake of saying I'm in a relationship to shut others up.

1) I get to do what I want when I want
2) No compromising
3) I get to do what I want when I want

Did I mention I get to do what I want when I want?

I've been single my entire life, and I plan to keep it that way. Just the thought of being in a relationship makes me uncomfortable, so I do see why it's necessary for me to put myself through something that would make me miserable. I'm extremely happy, and I pat myself on the back everyday for deciding to live life as a single woman. Loneliness has never been a problem for me because I have an amazing and supportive family that are very much involved in my life, so I don't have some sort of hole in my heart that needs to be filled. I don't think that everyone has the same path in life, and I especially don't think that everyone's purpose is to go out there and find a significant other.

3 Virtues of Being Single:

1. I'm able to have an entire bed to myself.
2. I can make decisions for myself without having to consider the thoughts and opinions of someone else.
3. I can just go home and read a book in silence whenever I want to.

No one to argue with, being able to watch the tv show I want to watch, and no one to mess up my bathroom. Oh, also no one to screw up my pots, pans and knives. I am so thankful to be single.

I'm a single man but I came across this online, and this is one good reason for women to stay single....

http://melodymaker.posterous.com/the-reason-some-girls-stay-single-very-funny

3 virtues of being single for me:

1. Never have to know what Oprah and the ladies from the View have been up to, ever.
2. Can feel free to watch the tv cut of Predator at 3am, even though you own the DVD, and not be chastised for it.
3. Never have to watch, and pretend to enjoy, anything with Sarah Jessica Parker in it.

These are just three small examples taken from the Film and Television section of an entire book of virtues of being single.

Recently, I broke up with my boyfriend of four months. He suffered from chronic depression, and it was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to deal with. About 5 months before we started dating, I had my heart broken by a guy I had dated for 3 years. And, two months before that, I ended a relationship of 1 year. I am only 19 years old, and despite my age, my relationships have taught me more about myself than I thought was possible.

Right now, I feel confident, secure, and happy to spend time on myself. I know people always say that the teenage years are the roughest. I agree that they are the most emotionally tumultuous, but transitioning from teenager to 'young adult' has already proved daunting. Entering this phase in my life single is honestly more comforting than being tied down to someone else. I feel as if my opportunities are boundless.

I don't feel lonely whatsoever, and I have no 'Darwinian' drive to justify my single status with fake happiness. Being single empowers you. It gives you time to love yourself. It forces you to appreciate your friends and family,and realize that this cultural obsession with finding the 'one' or the right companion is ridiculous. It may never happen. It definitely won't happen if you try to force it too. Just because you are single, it doesn't mean you don't have love in your life. I feel loved everyday, and being in a relationship only heightens that feeling.

after getting out of an extremely unhealthy relationship, i decided to spend a year being single. i've never really done something like this before.. and i never thought i'd say this.. but it. is. awesome.
1.) i can go anywhere i want, do anything i want, without having to consider another person in my plans.
2.) in my life, i have been in so many horrible situations with men.. honestly, being single, you don't have to put up with being mistreated. i know that's a really sad outlook, and someday i really have hope that i will find someone who treats me respectfully. but, truth be told, I have had significantly less drama in my life being single, and significantly less bullcrap to deal with.
3.) my Christian faith is extremely important to me, and I can devote myself so much more to that when I'm single.

3 Perks/Virtues of the "Single Life"
1. Diagonal Sleep
2. Restored ability to dream about the future. Since the "unknown" has practically no limits.
3. Undivided attention to yourself. She or He has missed you all that time you wasted on that a*s.

1. Loneliness and depression makes you a better writer.
2. Zero accountability means you can be a disgustlingly slobby or annoyingly tidy.
3. There are no restraints on your unproductive and possibly damaging hobbies.

Wait... a minute...

I have had two very long term relationships (in a relative sense, as I am 25, one 6-year and one 3-year relationship) and my current singleness is satisfying both in contrast to those relationships and as a result of having had that experience.
Being single is rewarding to me because I am able to determine my own priorities independently of anyone else's needs. I may be constrained by the requirements of the real world at times, but if I were to decide that I needed to quit my job and pursue another career path tomorrow, I would not have to explain myself to another person, nor be liable for that person's well-being while I struggled through my own decisions. While I would never do something to destroy my own life, I have that capability at my disposal.
Secondly, I have formed a sense of self out of the ashes of my relationships that I could not have comprehended when I was sharing a majority of myself with someone else. I see singleness as both a welcome respite from immersion in another person's mental space and a comfortable holding pattern while I realize the emotional needs I must expect from myself and what I can realistically ask of another human.
Finally, I find the first droplets of romance and love wholly intoxicating and something ephemeral. The sensation of new love is something completely different from the partnership and companionship of long-term commitment. Perhaps we can dispute the definition of single (whether "dating" or casual romantic relationships constitute something other than single) but I feel that I can contemplate long-term singleness more easily when I allow myself to engage with other people in a free and uninhibited manner.
Being single is as close as anybody can ever get to "being themselves," at least unless they find a partner that elicits complete trust and comfort.

Ive been single now for about 4 years from a committed relationship , Im 25, and agree with what I have read in other's posts; that you should know yourself thoroughly and be able to keep a smile on your own face before attempting to put a smile on somebody else's. One good thing about being single, and that's single by choice, is that you can always hear about other people's relationships from a different perspective and you can learn from them, if you choose to do so.

I have a lot of dreams. Dreams of financial success, of traveling, and of course finding a beautiful woman when the time is right (preferably from Spain!), and part of knowing what those dreams are is knowing my NIGHTMARE. How many of us know people in relationships that seem like they shouldn't be together but they stay together anyway? How many of us have close friends in relationships they probably shouldn't be in?? Anyway, all Im saying is that those of us that are single have a great opportunity to look at the turmoil going on in others lives because of weird relationships, and then purposefully log into your mind (or journal, etc) the ways that you are going to do things different when you have a significant other.

Every day we can learn something and apply it to life, even if we're not in school or being trained. Also, this concept of learning from others relationships doesn't just apply to bad relationships for me, I only mention it first because most relationships in this world end up bad in the long run, just look at marriage statistics. Anyway, I have a select few friends who are in beautiful relationships who I also learn from in a major way. My next relationship will be sprinkled with all kinds of influences from these couples, and for that I am truly grateful.

So to conclude, I guess you could say that I take pieces from others lives and I use them, good and bad, to enrich and prepare for my own journey. Plus, as long as you haven't found your SoulPancake, I mean Soulmate..being single is just soooo much easier! Less stress, more time for adventures! Thats whats up!

I really think that you need to find a way to love yourself before you love someone else. It takes a lot of time and effort to do this, but in a relationship, you take on someone else's problems. If you don't have yourself or your life figured out, being single is sometimes the best option. Not sure if this answers the question, but that is my 2 cents.

1. not having to compromise
2. not having to recover from unmet expectations
3. not having to pick up the dirty dishes, dirty socks, dirty everything, then clean the dirty everythings, then put the once dirty -now clean everythings away,..
3. abbreviated not having to clean up after a lazy slob

Meh, I don't like being single, but if I actually get in a relationship, it actually needs to be serious. I don't want to just awkwardly look at someone I don't like, because they think I'm a "Hottie".

Being 16 amd never having a serious realtionship EVER, I see nothing wrong with being single. My thoughts on relationships: whats the point? It's not like at this point in our lives it will mature into anything real. Maybe it's just I'm too lazy to actually persue anyone, or maybe I'm just waiting until college to find "the one" but for now I'm perfectly happy with my life.

I'm not single right now but when I was, I loved that I could come home and everything was where I left it. I could buy food for just 'me' and all the messes were mine. I wrote a blog recently "Top 10 Reasons to Love Living Single". It might cheer up if you feel lonely. http://www.lisathomsonlive.com/blog Apologies for the promo but it seems appropriate here:)

well im not shy or anything but its fun to be single because your not tied down by one girl and when your single, you can just mess around all day without having her/him criticize you! (Run-on sentence..)

I am 46, never been married. I've had some great relationships mostly short lived. I would say I have been single more than I have been in a relationship. All of them nice guys but just didn't value me more than they valued themselves.

I'm a happy person and have lived a very exciting adventurous life traveling for my career. No regrets. It's not that it is superior to non-single people; It's simply my choice in life and I am fulfilled because I am doing everything the way I want. I have to say, after spending time with married couples or life partners... I am exasperated and so glad I am calling all my own shots! They thrive off needing each other... that's just not in my make-up as a human.

No one has measured up to the standards I have for myself and my life. My personal motto has always been, I would rather be alone than compromise any aspect of how I want my life to be. Kinda selfish... but that's what being single allows me to be guilt free. I never wanted kids, and I never cared about getting married, so even though I have felt lonely now and again, for the most part it's all working out according to plan.

There was a phase when everyone was married and having kids, they didn't have time for me... now they are getting divorced and their kids are going off to college!! They are looking to me to help them get their lives back! Ironic, huh?

As of 8 months ago, I started dating the man/best friend that I have been in love with for 20 years, (unrequited until now). He got married, had two kids and is now divorced. He is and always will be my best friend, it's perfect easy, we respect and admire each other immensely. He is my soulmate. Because we don't own a house or have kids together... no stress, just pure joy and passion! Totally worth the wait. Will it last forever? who knows!! But boy am I having fun!

It's nothing to do with one state being superior to another, it's just at the moment I'm happy being single because I haven't found the person I'm going to fall in love with.

I think that in order to be happy in a relationship you have to be able to be happy alone first. If you can't find your own happiness then you can't ever expect someone else to be able to give it to you. True happiness comes from within, other people can only help to draw out your own organic happiness.

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SoulPancake

SoulPancake

What's So Great About Being Single?

Name 3 Virtues of Being Single

bye_good

jlpizmee1

1) I get to do what I want when I want
2) No compromising
3) I get to do what I want when I want

Did I mention I get to do what I want when I want?

britnee

satoribliss

No one to argue with, being able to watch the tv show I want to watch, and no one to mess up my bathroom. Oh, also no one to screw up my pots, pans and knives. I am so thankful to be single.

RyanWeir

heyitscate44

michigander

TheWhitneyDork

3 Perks/Virtues of the "Single Life"
1. Diagonal Sleep
2. Restored ability to dream about the future. Since the "unknown" has practically no limits.
3. Undivided attention to yourself. She or He has missed you all that time you wasted on that a*s.

RatherNotBeALawyer

1. Loneliness and depression makes you a better writer.
2. Zero accountability means you can be a disgustlingly slobby or annoyingly tidy.
3. There are no restraints on your unproductive and possibly damaging hobbies.

Wait... a minute...

dbass926

mattyh

Caroline

TNtinman

1. not having to compromise
2. not having to recover from unmet expectations
3. not having to pick up the dirty dishes, dirty socks, dirty everything, then clean the dirty everythings, then put the once dirty -now clean everythings away,..
3. abbreviated not having to clean up after a lazy slob

RyanCantDrum

Meh, I don't like being single, but if I actually get in a relationship, it actually needs to be serious. I don't want to just awkwardly look at someone I don't like, because they think I'm a "Hottie".

lightintheattic

Lisat

noslenmongkhonvilay

well im not shy or anything but its fun to be single because your not tied down by one girl and when your single, you can just mess around all day without having her/him criticize you! (Run-on sentence..)

lionessrk

KatieBarber

It's nothing to do with one state being superior to another, it's just at the moment I'm happy being single because I haven't found the person I'm going to fall in love with.

lemonzean

What's So Great About Being Single?

Name 3 Virtues of Being Single

1) I get to do what I want when I want2) No compromising3) I get to do what I want when I wantDid I mention I get to do what I want when I want?

No one to argue with, being able to watch the tv show I want to watch, and no one to mess up my bathroom. Oh, also no one to screw up my pots, pans and knives. I am so thankful to be single.

3 Perks/Virtues of the "Single Life"1. Diagonal Sleep2. Restored ability to dream about the future. Since the "unknown" has practically no limits.3. Undivided attention to yourself. She or He has missed you all that time you wasted on that a*s.

1. Loneliness and depression makes you a better writer.2. Zero accountability means you can be a disgustlingly slobby or annoyingly tidy.3. There are no restraints on your unproductive and possibly damaging hobbies.Wait... a minute...

1. not having to compromise2. not having to recover from unmet expectations3. not having to pick up the dirty dishes, dirty socks, dirty everything, then clean the dirty everythings, then put the once dirty -now clean everythings away,..3. abbreviated not having to clean up after a lazy slob

Meh, I don't like being single, but if I actually get in a relationship, it actually needs to be serious. I don't want to just awkwardly look at someone I don't like, because they think I'm a "Hottie".

well im not shy or anything but its fun to be single because your not tied down by one girl and when your single, you can just mess around all day without having her/him criticize you! (Run-on sentence..)

It's nothing to do with one state being superior to another, it's just at the moment I'm happy being single because I haven't found the person I'm going to fall in love with.

What's Next?

1) I get to do what I want when I want
2) No compromising
3) I get to do what I want when I want

Did I mention I get to do what I want when I want?

3 Perks/Virtues of the "Single Life"
1. Diagonal Sleep
2. Restored ability to dream about the future. Since the "unknown" has practically no limits.
3. Undivided attention to yourself. She or He has missed you all that time you wasted on that a*s.

1. Loneliness and depression makes you a better writer.
2. Zero accountability means you can be a disgustlingly slobby or annoyingly tidy.
3. There are no restraints on your unproductive and possibly damaging hobbies.

Wait... a minute...

1. not having to compromise
2. not having to recover from unmet expectations
3. not having to pick up the dirty dishes, dirty socks, dirty everything, then clean the dirty everythings, then put the once dirty -now clean everythings away,..
3. abbreviated not having to clean up after a lazy slob