The Perks of Being Single

Okay, if you are a regular blog reader of mine, you may have caught my Valentine's Day post. I almost didn't publish that one; I had a spectacularly lame/hilarious post about the history of Valentine's Day (with commentary!) from Wikipedia, but my sister convinced me to "keep it real." But, as promised, here are some things that really rock about being single (because sometimes a girl-or boy-just needs to remember the perks). And in no particular order, though the silly ones are toward the beginning. Actually, most of these are silly, but the last three are the big things (to me, at least).

1. I can start watching The Two Towers, get to the part where Gandalf heals Theoden (or just skip to that part) and decide that I want to watch The Princess Bride instead. Now, I know this is a shallow reason, and one of the weaker ones, but when you are watching a movie with yourself, you don't have to convince anyone when you change your mind.

2. On a similar note, I could watch a Merlin marathon and no one would be there to tell me to stop it and watch something less British and that is not on the SyFy channel.

3. I can sing loudly, obnoxiously and off-key in my car if I want, because there isn't a passenger.

4. When I am trying to cook, I can make stuff that I like, even if I know that no one else likes that many vegetables in their scrambled eggs.

5. With that, I don't have to worry that anyone else will be eating my cooking. At least not for a while.

6. Think of all the money I save not having anniversaries or Valentine's Day to think about (this one is kind of a joke. And by kind-of, I mean, really).

7.I was able, after graduation, to take a job in a different state doing something that I truly love doing, to discover if it was career-worthy. While I admit that I could have been in a relationship and still gone to South Dakota, it would have made it even harder. I had a hard enough time leaving my family and friends, but I think that that long of a long-distance relationship, especially with the cost of gas and plane tickets, would have been really, really hard, and might have been a very heavy determent to my going. I have learned so much here, and while I am getting ready to count down the days till I return to a closer-to-home-place (in the PNW), I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be. During a conversation with a dear friend (when I was forcing her to hear my post graduation thoughts and expected feedback), I causally mentioned an idea that I had cooked up, going to the Caribbean to A) work at a museum and B) study pirates. Now, this didn't pan out (obviously. Mostly due to logistics and finances), but she told me that really, I could go anywhere. There is no one that I need to decide things with (Except for God. And I do consult my parents, and pray. Lots of praying), I can just GO. Which is a very exciting, if at times terrifying, freedom.

8. Another thing is that I am learning a lot about myself and growing more comfortable in the skin that I am in. I know that I've got issues (but you're pretty messed up too), and I am being forced to confront them. Yay.
You hear about people who are in relationships and after they're over, have to relearn being themselves alone. Everyone I know that is in a relationship seems to be pretty sure in who they are. And personally, I'm on my way there; so that I have a stronger sense of me.

8b. You know that story about each person is like a puzzle piece, and they and their spouse fit perfectly and compliment each other? Well, the puzzle pieces have to know what they are and be comfy with their own puzzle piece selves. Some people learn quickly how to be and love themselves. Me, I'm just slow :) But I am on my way.

9. So, like I said, I'm spending a lot of quality time learning about myself. I'm also spending a lot of quality time learning about God. And by learning about God, I am taking steps towards being the confident young woman of God that He wants me to be. I'm not saying people that aren't single can't do this, but at this stage in my life, these are lessons I need to learn on my own.

Well, kids, yet another post and no LOTR. Boo. But, seriously, I plan on adding to this. I know there are lots more (alot more?) and that perhaps I didn't word these quite as well as I was thinking them. If you think of any, do let me know.