There is definitely a stigma around single people. In our culture being in a relationship is romanticized. Somehow, being single has become an exception to the rule, instead of being it. Our relationship status is a part of how we introduce ourselves. We also tend to criticize others based on their relationship status. We define ourselves by our relationship status and that should never happen.

We are so much more than our relationship status. Being in a relationship is so glamorized in our society that we feel and made to think that there is something wrong with us if we aren’t in one. We look up to all the couples we see in the movies or on TV so much that it convinced that this is where happiness stems from. After all, the damsel only gets her “happily ever after” after she meets the prince, but does she really?

Well, there is a reason why they are called fairy tales. We need to wake and grow up and realize this is real life. It’s 2019 for crying out loud! We don’t need the love of a man to determine our self-worth. We don’t need the love of a man to come into our own. We don’t need the love of a man to love ourselves.

When I was 25, I became single after many years of being in and out of relationships. Back then, I must admit, I fell victim to the stigma. I was sure it was going to be the most depressing and draining period of my life. However, it wasn’t. Unlike what the media and fairy tales made me believe, I had fun enjoyed single, truly.

While single, I was able to dig into and learn more about myself. Being single allowed me to grow and evolve. It helped me know who I am and what kind of person I want to be.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that being in a relationship isn’t great. It is. However, I do believe that you have to learn to enjoy both being in a relationship and being single. While it is more than great to receive love from someone, it is also so fulfilling to get that love from yourself.