Today something I’ve heard at least 20 times this year hit
me differently, and offered a new perspective on life. “There are worse things than being single.”
The implication here has always been that to be married to
the wrong person, to be in a loveless marriage, the abusive sort, or one with
no real connection is certainly worse. I
would agree with this whole heartedly. And
being desperate to fix the “problem of being alone” can have disastrous
results. In fact I have often made this
my argument for being as careful as I am with whom I date.
But tonight something spilled out of my mouth that I now
stand behind. “That saying isn’t
right. It’s as if someone is saying,
‘your life stinks, but hey, it could be worse. You could be in a bad marriage. So at least there’s that’.
But really, my life is great!
I’ve got it good! Being single IS
awesome!”
I get that most people don’t wear the unmarried outfit that
well. It might be tight and ill fitting,
it could be loose and blousy, maybe a hot mess, but I think it looks pretty
stylin' on me, so I’m owning it! My new
goal will be to make people say, “Hey, there are worse things than being
married.”
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| FL Coast |
Well, not really. I
love seeing people with their perfect match, I like seeing the joy that it brings to their
lives. But, I might just like to point
out that I also have a sweet life. I
will give you my list. And hey, if you
marrieds feel jealous, I’m sorry. And for you singles out there I hope you
will wake up and smell the coffee…cause your life rocks!
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| Colorado Mt. |
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| Glacier National Park |
3.Your
Money Is Your Own: Hello, have you
ever heard how much kids cost, singles! Diapers, stitches, broken arms,
extra food, not to mention those hard to come by babysitters.
4.Your
House Is Clean: Stop in on a mom half way through the day and you will
understand this one. Kids and
spouses are messy. Extra dishes, lots of dirty laundry, crumbs everywhere
and hand prints in the most odd places.
That’s life and you married couples have to deal with it.
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| San Diego ZOO |
5. Travel: Do I have to explain this one??? Parents would love to go on a vacation
without their kids. Singles can
plan a trip spontaneously because there’s only one schedule to worry
about. As long as you have time, off
you can go. Not so for
parents. Their trips must be
planned at least 6 months out, school is factored in, praying you child
doesn’t break a major bone before that trip, and hoping no real finacial
emergencies come up is always on their minds, not to mention having to
find house and pet sitters.
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| Disney World |
6. Quiet: Pay close attention to this one singles,
you may take this for granted in a major way, but I promise you that
parents know what a treasure this is.
7. What’s
Mine Is Mine: I already mentioned money, but I didn’t cover THINGS. I have lots of nieces and nephews and
just from the short visits I’ve had with them I learned quickly that if it
isn’t locked up its fair game.
Make-up is ruined, clothes stained, lamps broken, bedding wrecked,
computers dropped just to name a few.
And my nieces and nephews are better-behaved than most kids FYI.
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| Canada |
There really isn’t a need to go on because I think I have
made my point. My life, as I said,
ROCKS. I get to offer help to moms who
need a night off because I have time, I get to drop everything and take a vacation,
I am able to work for myself because I’m responsible. I carry my own load and have a fairly drama-free world. And by the way, I get to be
the “Fun Aunt”. So the next time you
feel tempted to offer the consolation prize to a single friend, don’t. Remind them how great they have it. Help them see what they do have. And singles, don’t be demanding of your
already taxed friends who are trying to cope with how hard it is to be a good
wife and mother. Maybe offer to help her with the kids for a day, most likely
by the end of the day you will see how great you life really is.
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| Treasure Island, FL |
