When providing people with the information that you are single, you are often met with sad eyes and that condescending line, “oh the right man is out there, I know it”. Coupled-up people always seem to assume that if you are single, you are sad, depressed and lonely. It is as if single girls are supposed to always be on the look-out for available men. What if, God forbid, we are actually satisfied being single, without a relationship, without a man?

What does being single even mean? Surely the term should be deemed obsolete now as we live in a world where more men and women are postponing marriage in order to pursue individual dreams. There is a stigma that comes along with the term ‘single’, one that even bachelors over the age of thirty five cannot escape. Is it not time to realise that being single is merely another way of living and not a way of passing the time before marriage and kids finally come into the picture?

Helen Fielding, creator of the fictional character Bridget Jones, created a woman who was supposed to appeal to young, single women everywhere. However, I am not sure that a woman who over drinks, smokes like a chimney and looks to self-help books for guidance is someone I would want as my role model. Not every singleton resents married couples but we do resent their meddling with our personal lives. Also, not every singleton is miserable without the perfect man. Does he even exist? Why waste life looking for the right guy when you could easily be living your life the way you want to?

Despite the popularity surrounding the character of Bridget Jones, being single doesn’t have to involve drowning in bottles of wine, soggy tissues and listening to Mariah Carey. Being single can be invigorating. A monotonous life can be avoided as being single allows you the opportunity to be an independent, well-rounded person with the freedom to enhance your own self-worth. In a world where we are constantly looking for more time, being single allows you that extra time to yourself.

Whilst people are so quick to explain the downside of being single, why does no one take into the account the negatives of being in a relationship? Those in relationships have to deal with their own share of problems involving commitment issues and dealing with each other’s bad habits. Life will always have its problems, whether you are single or not.

However, advantages of being single include never having  to worry about when you have to call him, if you said the right thing, if you hurt his feelings or where the relationship is going. Not to mention the amount of money you save that would normally be spent on celebrating the three month anniversary, and then the sixth month, the ten month and so on.

People in relationships have made a conscious decision to be in a relationship, so why is it so hard to believe that single people have made a conscious decision to forego a relationship? Out of all the relationships you have throughout life, the one you have with yourself should be the most valued; after all, it will never leave you.

Being alone doesn’t make you lonely and not being part of a couple certainly does not make you half a person. When you have your friends and family and your social life is buzzing, can you still be categorised as single?