By Hannah Wise
I’m not sorry or embarrassed to be single. No, I’m not a part of the group of feminists that believes that men aren’t needed or anything like that — I just recognize that I’m so much more than a girl longing and waiting for the day I can have a partner in life.
Honesty first … I was that girl. Not that I stood around and waited for my prince charming to sweep me off my feet, but I couldn’t picture a future where I wasn’t “married with kids.” It just wasn’t an option. Even now, it makes me happy to imagine the possibility of a future in which I get to be with an amazing man.
However, the older I get, the more I realize that domestic life isn’t the only future I can picture that would make me happy. Being single has made me a dreamer, and it has allowed me to throw my passion into so many other things rather than just one person.
I’m only in my early 20s, and I’ve already been asked (too many times to count) when I’m going to get myself a nice guy and stop being so picky. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be holding out for my ideal guy, because they just don’t exist. I’ve been told I need to learn to accept and love the flaws of those “good-enough” guys.
Here’s the thing: I’ve got a great life. My family and friends are so incredible that sometimes I’m just baffled by how blessed I am. I’ve gotten the chance to travel the world for months. I’ve learned about passions I didn’t even know I had and have grown in them. I’ve worked on projects that I couldn’t be more proud of. I get to go to school eight hours from home, because I truly love being here. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to pursue and nurture a relationship with my incredible savior and redeemer … while single.
None of this would have been nearly as possible if I was in a committed relationshipbecause, let’s face it, they take lots of work. I’m in no way saying that if you find the right person for you, it isn’t totally worth it. But, like my friend once told me, “If my life is this wonderful, it’s going to take a pretty incredible guy to come flip it upside down, and I’m not just going to let anyone do that.”
I know who I am, and I’m not going to wait on a guy to make my life worthier. I’m single, and I won’t be upset about it. Here’s to dreaming big and living life to the fullest!
