For three years now I have been the single friend to most of my girlfriends and boyfriends. And frankly, my family. I am the one who dates a lot but does not commit to anyone. The one who makes an incredible third-wheel, shoulder to lean on and person to talk to about relationship issues, all in one. Nonetheless, the last three years have not been sad, lonely or miserable for me. I have certainly developed and grown in ways I might not have if I were in a relationship. Here are some of the benefits of being single at a young age for anyone who seems to be worried about that situation.  

1. I Have Grown My Platonic Relationships 

Let’s face it, sometimes when we are in a relationship we forget that other people exist beyond our partner😩. I have certainly been guilty of this. Not only do we tend to gravitate towards and spend much more time with our romantic partners, we also avoid getting new friendships and relationships that could potentially trigger jealousy or insecurity within the relationship. Love birds barely have extra time for friends and family. However, being single has freed me of such emotional and physical restrictions. I have been more open to mingle with a lot more people without concerns of how my partner might feel because I don’t have one.

2. I Have Grown My Investments 

When I was in a relationship, a good chunk of my money was spent commuting to see my boyfriend at the time, treating him out to dinner, movies and an occasional gift. Being in a relationship means that our financial decisions and their impacts are not isolated to us. This varies from the dating level straight up to the marriage level. We inevitable get to spend a substantial part of our income on our significant other. However, being single meant that I get to redirect the money I was spending while in a relationship. My financial commitments are now limited to my family and friends. A significant chunk of it remains to be saved and to treat myself.

3. I Have Learned A Lot About Myself 

When we get into a relationship, especially at a young age, our preferences for basic and complex things can be influenced by our significant other. We potentially get into what they like, allow them to have their way with a movie here, dinner choice there and before you know it, we are morphed into who they want us to be. This at the expense of our individuality and choices. While it is okay for couples to like the same things- hell similarity can be a great determinant of compatibility- it is vital that we learn about ourselves outside of the relationship. Being single has been instrumental in allowing me to discover so much about  myself. I go to restaurants to try out new foods, I discovered running when I became single, I am blogging, I have traveled more freely and I constantly put myself in situations that make me level up to whatever I haven’t discovered yet. If you are single, I would highly recommend that you explore as much as possible. The possibilities are endless.

4. I Have Learned To Champion For Myself Without Support From A Romantic Partner

A big part of having “your person” is the fact that they are automatically your support system. They are there through thick and thin. They are your “ride or die“, or whatever the kids are calling it these days. Being single on the hand means that you have your friends, family, and most importantly, yourself to cheer you on. We all know that we don’t always show our most vulnerable selves to anyone else but ourselves. I have become my greatest support system and cheerleader over the years. Having supportive friends and family has certainly done the most for me, but doing the work on my end has proven successfully on top of that. 

Take your time before getting into a relationship, nurture your own values, space and emotions so that you get to love someone else better. If you are single, what are the ways the situation has been beneficial for you?