Singles are the fastest growing population group in the nation. Remaining single is a choice that an increasing number of people are finding themselves satisfied with, but it is not without its bumps, especially around the holidays.
Coupledom is not a surefire path to happiness, and many people are choosing lives of happiness alone rather than experience the anxiety and depression that can accompany an unhappy relationship. Women no longer depend on marriage; singlehood provides women with freedom in decision-making and lets them live their lives however they see fit. It lets women explore themselves as independent individuals rather than someone who defines themselves by the relationship they are in.
However, it can be difficult a difficult choice to explain to others, as holiday gatherings seem to invariably steer to this line of questioning. Media messages tend to paint coupledom as the only path to happiness, which can make explaining singlehood to others, even oneself, difficult.
If you find yourself faced with questions around the holidays, rely on your support system; singles tend to have a diversified array of valued friends and family. Remember that, in choosing to be alone, you are allowing yourself to develop into your best self. You are free to explore your dreams in life, to be as creative as you like and to take your journey of discovery unbarred.
Singlehood is a path of self-exploration in which we discover that we are worthy even without the validation of another.
