For many years of my life, I dreaded the holidays as a single person. I could handle the “do you have a boyfriend?” and “why are you still single?” questions from my extended family, but I always felt like the odd man out around my friends. While they were exchanging gifts and cozying up by the fire with their significant others, I filled my time watching copious hours of Friends re-runs in my childhood bed… by myself.
But, after years of feeling sorry for myself (and years of having no boyfriend), I decided to change the narrative in my head. No more feeling bad about being single or wishing I had someone to kiss when the clock struck midnight on January 1. No more crying over pictures of a crush who decided he liked someone else instead.
Instead of spending every holiday season wishing my personal life was different, I chose to see my singleness as a gift. Whether you’re used to being the single one over the holidays or this year is your first rodeo, it’s time to start appreciating your singledom.
No Gifts, No Stress
The beautiful thing about being single over the holidays is you don’t have to stress about getting your significant other a gift. I have watched friends of mine stress for weeks over what to buy their partner, and it’s stress I’m happy to not have in my life.
And don’t even get me started on having to buy a gift for someone you’re newly dating… that’s just straight-up terrible.
You Don’t Have to Share
I’m at the point in my life where my friends are starting to get married, which means they’re having to split holidays with their in-laws. Being married sounds fun (at least, from what I’ve been told), but dealing with in-laws doesn’t always seem to be a walk in the park.
Thankfully, if you’re single, you don’t have to worry about spending the holidays with another family that’s not your own! I’m very close to my family and would be really sad if I didn’t get to spend Christmas with them, so I’m thankful that I don’t have to worry about sharing with somebody else.
Do Whatever You Want
Being single gives you the freedom to be selfish with your time. In my opinion, that’s the greatest gift of all. You don’t have to go to your significant other’s awkward holiday work party out of obligation or watch the Christmas movie they loved growing up. Instead, you get to celebrate the way you want to.
I try to relish in the freedom of my singleness, especially since I know it won’t last forever. Or at least, I hope it doesn’t last forever. I know there will come a time where I do have a partner who I bring home for the holidays (or who brings me home for the holidays) and I’ll have to compromise. That’s what being in a relationship is all about, right?
I look forward to having someone to share my life with, but for now, I’m choosing to enjoy the life I have. If you’re also in my position, don’t waste the holidays feeling bad for yourself or your situation. Watch the Christmas movie you want to watch, eat the food you want to eat, and most importantly, buy yourself the gift you really want.
