It’s super hard not to give in to the temptation to make this a negative post, because, let’s face it - being single sort of can suck at times. It’s the events you feel like a sore thumb at because you don’t have a date and all your single-guy-friends were busy. It’s the Valentines Days and New Years Eve that you spent home with your dog. It’s the sitting around with their girlfriends, as they talk about their miserable relationships, and finding yourself JEALOUS.

Yes, being single can suck. It’s why a lot of people stay in bad relationships. I have a friend who has broken up with her boyfriend more times this year alone than I’ve gone shoe shopping. (Um, that’s a lot.) They are still together. Are they happy? I don’t think so. But when push comes to shove, they both fear the alternative.

That’s not to say this is a healthy way of living. To love oneself, and be happy with oneself is paramount before being happy with anyone else. We all claim to know this, and appreciate this. Yet, we keep on finding excuses to ignore this and be sad that we are alone. Sad we have no one to cuddle with or smooch with or just feel in sync with.

But, guess what? It’s times like that that we must remind ourselves of all the awesome things about our lives:

1 - Single people don’t have to “check” with their other half about plans. They want to do something, they make a plan. No one else’s schedule matters.

2 - Want to not shave your legs? Feel like leaving the bed unmade? Well, chances are no one will see it, it doesn’t matter!  (Note, this is not an excuse for forgoing hygiene. Then you will just *stay* single.)

3 - Loving yourself! Date yourself for a bit! Take yourself out to dinner, watch TV, listen to the music you want - get to know yourself and what you like so you’ll know what you want and need and like before you STOP being single.

This list is hard to make. As a single, I am trained to not want to be single, and thus, shun all the “good” things about it. But they are out there - and the sooner you remind yourself of that, the less likely you are to jump into (or back into) the next crappy relationship.