Celebrate Your Singledom

Remember that dirty-sock cliché? Singles don't have a a partner to nag about those dirty socks on the bedroom floor, but they don't get whined at for leaving their own there either. And you know what? After all those gifts, a romantic dinner, and some wine, coupled people's partners are going to expect some extra-special Valentine's Day sex. And they may not feel like that at all.

 

 

The advantages of being single go beyond being able to live in a messy house if you want to. Nobody will be nagging at you to get undressed, and you don't have to invent a headache. Meanwhile, if you do feel like "it", you have to freedom to choose anyone you want for that one night.

Nearly half of all American adults are now single. That comes to 100 million people, the highest figure ever! Though some (coupled!) people will still try to make you feel bad for being on your own, the stigma attached to being a single is rapidly disappearing. Did you know that 61 percent of singles never walked down the aisle? Back in 1960, only 15 percent of the American population remained unmarried. How many people in the married majority actively wanted this kind of life, and how many went along with it because everyone expected them to?

 

The 2010 census shows that married couples now account for less than 50 percent of households, and 28 percent never got hitched. Being in an unappreciated minority can sure make you feel bad, but guess what? If you're single, you are no longer an exception. You're in good company, and share your status with literally millions of other people.

Being married or partnered can offer a lot of satisfaction. You get to share all your joys, fears, worries and mood swings with someone who committed to being with you no matter what. When you're part of a couple, you lose some of your individuality as you merge into a part of a whole. 

 

That can be a good thing, but also an unfortunate one. You can't just ignore your partner when he says he wants to move to the country, or when she says she wants to send your kids to an obscure private school, or when he thinks you should lose some weight, or when she thinks you should sell that car. 

 

 

You can move for your job, or stay put. You can make that healthy dinner, or have Chinese takeout yet again. You can go to that movie with friends, or just spend time in front of the TV. You get to decide how much or how little interaction you want with other humans, without having to take your partner's wishes into account. 

 

Read More: Dinner for Two: Romantic Valentine's Day Recipes

 

Singles who are unhappily on their own have a whole lot to look forward to this year. You won't find that exciting, in-love, "everything is new" feeling with someone you've been married to for 20 years — but you will get to experience it. And singles who are ecstatic to have the liberties that come with being alone can enjoy February the 14th in peace. 

 

Above all, singles won't have to feel guilty about not going into debt (or at least spending more than they want to) on stupid knick-knacks that are meant to convey love.