If you’re still single in your 30s, you might start to panic that you might be forever alone. Stop that immediately. Being single at 30 isn’t a bad place to be at all — in fact, it’s actually pretty awesome.
1. YOU’VE GOT A PLACE OF YOUR OWN TO CALL HOME.
You probably have your own place, and you can come and go from it as you please. You answer to no one and no one nags you to do stuff around the house, because you do things when you damn well please. You might wish you had someone there to come home to some days, but one day you won’t have that guaranteed escape of complete solitude, so enjoy the awesome while you still can.
2. YOU’VE GOT REAL DATING EXPERIENCES UNDER YOUR BELT.
You don’t just have a couple sub-par relationships in your past — you have real and mature experiences now. You’re no longer dating for a sport, you’re dating for the long haul. Even when you do date a douchebag and it doesn’t work out, you know how to learn from the experience. Being single at 30 is like a fine wine — you get better with age.
3. YOU’VE OBSERVED OTHER SERIOUS RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNED FROM THEM.
Aside from your own experiences, you’ve had plenty of time to observe other couples’ relationships and it’s made you all the wiser in what you do and don’t want for yourself in the future. Wisdom is power.
4. YOU TRULY KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN A MAN.
You’ve narrowed down exactly what you want in a partner. It’s not just about looks or money anymore. You want real, lasting qualities in a man, and you value what’s on the inside more than the outside. You want someone with a soul and integrity, not just someone who looks good on your arm.
5. YOU’VE HAD MORE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF.
The longer you spend on your own, the more deeply rooted you are in yourself. One of the perks about still being single at 30 is that you’ve had more opportunity than most to truly develop yourself as a person. As much as people who got married in their 20s think they understand what this feels like, they really don’t, and the real discovery for them comes later. You’re a step ahead in being completely aware of who you are, which is something you should be damn proud of.
6. EVERY PENNY YOU EARN BELONGS TO YOU.
If you want a new pair of shoes or a glam rock table lamp, it’s yours. You can buy whatever, whenever with your grown up paychecks and no one is going to give you crap about buying something that makes you happy. You finance yourself.
7. YOU MAKE EVERY CHOICE FOR YOURSELF.
Everything from home decor to what’s for dinner is at your fingertips. The world is your oyster and you can do anything you want. If you want to go out at midnight and meet a friend for a night cap, you can. If you want to take a spontaneous trip to Vegas with the girls for the weekend, you can. No one is going to weigh in on your decisions.
8. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPLIT HOLIDAYS YET, SO YOU ENJOY YOUR FAMILY TIME NOW.
Splitting holidays between two families is fun and all, but it’s always super hectic. There’s a reason people rant about holiday stresses and it usually involves the in-laws and crazy scheduling. While your coupled up friends are doing that, you’re just like, “This wine and freedom tastes great!”
9. YOU HAVE COMPLETE AND TOTAL FREEDOM.
People might frown upon the fact that you’re still single in your 30s, but you know better. You know that life is just as fun and satisfying at this age and probably even more so because of the adult life you’re living. You’re responsible, independent, established and wiser. Best of all, you have complete freedom. And despite common stereotypes, 30 is still young. You’ve got plenty of time left for settling down in the right relationship.
By Andrea Wesley for Bolde