I’m recently single, which is always a bummer of a thing to say out loud (or in this case, to type), so it was kind of encouraging to come across an Ask Reddit page with this prompt:
“What is a reason you are glad to be single?”
Why should I not be down in the dumps?
Let’s find out!
1. All-around good.
All of them. I am single for the last 10 years +-.
All my money is mine. All my time is mine. All my attention goes where I want it to go (minus distractions, hi Reddit).
In my view the planet is over-populated, so there is no serious thought of reproduction.
I just try to get fulfillment in life.
– Nope_Nope_Nope_0
2. Whatever I want!
I can do whatever I want, whenever I want without checking in with anyone.
Also no woman should have to be subjected to my toxic family
– yeetgodmcnechass
3. Chill.
Christmas is coming and I have no stress and it’s not expensive
– YourWifeNdKids
4. A pain to pleasure.
I’m naturally very empathetic and a people pleaser. It’s a part of my brain that goes into hyperdrive when I’m with someone I like.
It’s not even conscious most of the time, but it can be exhausting. It’s nice that my brain can turn that part off when I’m alone.
Also I can wake up and go to sleep at any time I want without messing up my SO’s sleeping patterns.
And middle of the bed! And not needing to check in with his plans.
– Strikhedonia_
5. No guilt.
I can do whatever I want and not feel guilty about spending time with no one
– Dawulf187falke
6. Free for all.
F**king freedom I love the single life
– geyehehrhrhegsgwwgw
7. I’m enough.
Learned to love myself without needing anyone else’s words of affirmation after being single for the first time in a few years.
– FinalTourist
8. Out the other end.
As someone who got out of a 3 year long relationship about 4 months ago I would say one of the biggest thing I’m glad about being single is being able to see myself clearly again, you don’t realise how much being in a relationship can blind you to how you’ve changed, or how love can numb you to certain things, when I got out of that relationship and once the ential crying and being depressed phase ended I slowly realized how much happier I was and how much I’ve changed, some of it good and some bad, but it was like being able to see myself through a clear lens and not through a distorted one
– mercury111111111
9. A bad engagement.
I was engaged but broke it off in July after putting up with a lot of disrespect from him and his family.
I had quite a bit of money saved aside for our wedding but now I can spend it on things I’ve wanted for a very long time.
I am finally taking care of myself and learning more about who I am as an individual instead of being someone’s fiancé.
– celestialnight994
10. A clean break.
My apartment is clean and neat and most importantly, 95% empty
– TheCrimsonChariot
11. What a drag.
No longer feel like I’m dragging a dead body behind me through life.
– coffeeruns
12. Safe from hurt.
No one can cheat on/ abuse me.
– AnonymousNeverKnown
13. Too much to take.
I don’t want to take into account someone else’s wants and needs when making life decisions.
I just graduated from college during Covid and I’m so lost so I don’t want to have a partner until I’m less lost.
– maraca101
14. Self-reflection.
I learned who I am after I decided to stop dating. It’s been 4 years being single, and I really love who I’ve become.
I was able to establish myself, my goals, and who I want to be.
– kylo_drew
15. Fulfillment.
Not having to deal with partners leaving you completely unfulfilled and always putting their bulls**t above you.
Not having to argue to exist in the ways you do because their insecurities and lack of self worth smother your joy.
– f*ckwhatyahurd
16. A day to day basis.
On a day to day basis, I struggle less with feelings of guilt.
There are things one misses out on by not being in a relationship, but not beating yourself up over a snappish reply or a thoughtless gesture towards someone you care about are not among them.
– Kipsydaisy
17. Don’t get ruined.
A lot of people I know who’ve ruined their lives did so over a lover.
Whether trying to get one, keep them, or fighting someone else over them, relationships can be very dangerous if you’re too emotionally immature.
– BabySuperfreak
18. My own stressors.
The only things stressing me are my own stressors.
I don’t have to help support someone else through theirs.
– 01kaj10
19. Bed hog.
I can sleep in the middle of the bed with the fan on if I want.
I can also leave something on the table and come back two weeks later and it is still there.
– GoatSculpture
20. A bad hang.
No longer being forced to hangout with their friends.
– Rude_Attorney_9428
21. Off the hook.
I’m not a huge fan of the single life but in the past when I’ve been in a relationship, I always felt like I needed to check my phone 24/7.
I like being able to just chill and play video games, watch a movie, hang with friends without checking my phone consistently.
– RealECW
22. My own lens.
I’m learning to navigate the world through the lens of my own needs and desires without worrying how I’m being perceived by a partner.
I do not believe I will be a good person to be in a relationship until I can do that- so I’m happy to struggle with it.
Also I really love dancing poorly to LCD sound system while my dog watches with fear and judgement in his eyes.
Not that I couldn’t do that before… it’s just so free to do it in my own apartment alone.
– [User Deleted]
23. You best appreciate.
Because I’d rather be single than be with someone who doesn’t appreciate my love and affection.
– sinderella666x0x
24. The other side.
I never want to turn the key in the door and have to worry about what is going to on the other side again.
I don’t want to have to manage another’s emotions or walk on eggshells. I love the peace that my space is mine alone. I also hate the obligations that tend to come with relationships.
I don’t want to attend other people’s events, or buy presents for inlaws etc.
Basically, I’m selfish:)
– UnfeelingSelfishGirl
25. Leave it to science.
Studies show that people who are married are on average slightly happier than people who are not married. Which has been known for a long time, so people have sort of internalized this idea that marriage equals happiness. But when you break down the numbers in that, what it actually looks like is that people in happy marriages are much happier than everyone else and people in unhappy marriages are much less happy than everyone else. So actually the “slightly happier” figure is pretty meaningless and just shows that slightly more marriages are happier than unhappy—and that’s what that looks like when averaged.
So (for those who want it) being in a good relationship is the best situation. But being single is the second best, and far better than being in a bad relationship. Also being single is a better position to be in if you’re looking for a good relationship, because being in a bad one means you have to go through the extra steps of breakup and recovery. Plus when you’re single you’re able to work on all those things about yourself that make your ready for a good relationship.
So to me it’s like not the very best, but it is the second best and that’s pretty good. It’s like you don’t have a Jaguar but you have a Honda, and it’s reliable and gets you were you need to go. And at least you’re not driving car from the 70’s with a leak in the fuel-line and a plastic Jaguar-sculpture taped on the hood.
– TheBaddestPatsy
26. Focus up.
Honestly, being single allowed me to put more focus on finishing my undergrad degree, which I just did this last week!
– njf175
27. A real introvert.
How much I don’t like being around people
– moimoisauna
28. The worry returns.
Sometimes, I worry about being single. Then, I remember my parents, and how they’ve been at each other’s throats for all my life.
Dying alone then seems like a blessing. Not screaming at my partner all the time…no kids to traumatize with all the aforementioned screaming…bliss.
– originalchaosinabox
29. Quite a list.
I can do whatever I want whenever I want.
If I want to stay up late, I can. If I want to go to sleep early, I can. If I want to sleep in, I can. If I want to wake up late, I can.
If I want to buy that xbox, PS, Nintendo, or upgrade my PC, I can. If I want to play video games, I can. If I want to watch a movie, I can. If I feel like watching tv, I can. If I feel like listening to music, I can.
If I feel like reorganizing or redecorating my apartment, I can.
If I want to go out to eat, I can. If I feel like cooking something at home, I can.
I can choose how I use my time. I can choose how I spend my money. I can choose how I save my money.
Do I feel lonely? I’ll admit it, sometimes I do. But I have good friends. If I feel like hanging out with my friends, if someone wants to hang out with me, I can. If I don’t feel like going out, I can stay home.
– photon3on
30. Woeful.
Despite the woeful lack of s**, being single means I get to spend my money on my own s**t.
– Eatsh*tmoderatorz
I guess it’s not all bad?
Are you single? How do you feel about it?
Tell us in the comments.