This one goes out to all my single ladies and gents.
Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day. Stop yourself from making that status about how you’re “forever alone” (that seriously makes me want to scrape my eyes out of their sockets) and ragging on those greeting card companies for their “fake” holiday. Quit bummin’ and take this day to embrace yourself, you beautiful thing.
Here are 10 reasons why it’s actually OK to be single in a society that loves to tell us that it’s not.
1. You’re independent. You know those people who leech onto their significant other and develop their entire personality and interests around what their boyfriend or girlfriend thinks is cool? These are also the same people who can’t go to the bathroom alone. You’re not them. Congratulations!
2. More money for you! You’re broke. You’re in college. When it’s already a struggle to get through a trip to Wal-Mart without feeling terrible about your life choices, it’s almost incomprehensible to add to this stress by buying thoughtful and expensive gifts for such arbitrary occasions as your “6 month anniversary <3.” Go buy yourself some donuts instead. It will feel good.
3. You get time to yourself. It’s healthy to be alone sometimes! Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert, but lying in bed watching E! and eating Lucky Charms sounds way more appealing to me than awkwardly sitting at your significant other’s friend’s house because “they really want to meet you!”
4. On that note, you have total control of the remote. You can watch the Kardashians all day if you damn well please and not get criticized for your poor taste in television.
5. You can do whatever you want without having to report back to someone. Sometimes having a boyfriend or girlfriend is like being constantly trailed by a helicopter parent. “Where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing? Are you having fun? Are there any boys/girls there? What time will you be back? Can you call me?” These kinds of questions have an eerie way of surfacing long-repressed memories of 10:30 p.m. curfews and a closet full of Hollister graphic tees. Thanks, but I was already 14 once.
6. Girls: less unnecessary pressure to shave! Grow that leg hair out nice and thick, baby.
7. No commitment. Wanna take some random person you met at a party back to your room? Go for it! (But wrap it up, please.)
8. Do you want to cut your hair? Change your style? Grow a beard? Lose weight? Do it! No need to seek approval from or worry about someone’s opinion who “just likes you how you are now, babe.”
9. No drama. No jealousy. No worrying about whether or not your boyfriend’s hanging out with his ex when he goes home for the weekend or what’s going to happen when your girlfriend gets that internship in New York for the summer.
10. You have more time with more important people: your friends. Don’t forget about them. They’re the ones who have always been there and who will continue to be there. Snuggle with them today.
I know these might sound selfish and they all go out the window when you meet the “right” person, but when you do, make sure that’s actually what that person is: right for you. Don’t settle. You’re worth more than that.
So what if you’re single? You’re fabulous. Love yourself on this day of love. It will make you happier, I promise.
Cortni Dietz is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University and a columnist for The Post. Tell her why you’re glad to be single at cd509910@ohiou.edu.
