People CAN be single and happy

Society peddles the tired notion that one isn't truly content unless they're married or in a relationship.

Our culture, as you've probably noticed, is highly relationship-centric. Valentine's Day, dating apps, celebrity weddings, juicy hookups bantered about at work. Our Facebook News Feeds replete with articles and memes pertaining to love and relationships, not to mention posts of people professing their love for their partner.

We might as well call it what it really is: a craze. An obsession, if you will.

There's no question that relationships are a wonderful thing. Who doesn't love to hear stories of couples getting engaged on the Eiffel Tower or celebrating their 50th anniversary?

A person can derive a wealth of benefits -- physical, emotional, and financial -- from being partnered up. Provided one is in a healthy relationship, a person's significant other can greatly enrich their life, being there to cheer their successes and help them through life's travails.

But I take issue with the assertion that single people can't be happy.

Whether they've been burned a number of times in the past or simply prefer their own company, people may decide to remain single for a variety of reasons, though it isn't as if they have to justify their decision to anyone.

Just as being in a relationship comes with a slew of perks, so does the choice to live unshackled. Many people would argue that singlehood means less stress, less heartbreak, and more time to pursue personal and professional pursuits, whether that be investing in education, starting a business, traveling around the world, or building friendships. (On the flip side, a partner can help one pursue their goals by, for example, supporting them financially.)

It goes without saying that relationships aren't all peaches and cream.

There are plenty of people who are in relationships, yet still feel lonely and disconnected from their partner. That's why, as I've noted in prior entries, many people find being single to be a better option. If they feel lonelier with someone else, why not fly solo? Your own company is better than that of a partner who mistreats or ignores you!

At the end of the day, neither option is necessarily better than the other. Some people are happy being married, others are fulfilled in relationships, and still others have opted to remain single. It's a simple master of taste/lifestyle preference, and no one should have to seek others' validation for their choice.

Yes, there are many people in the world who are single and quite happy. And no one should presume that there mere fact someone is single likely means they're hopelessly lonely. Solitude -- which so many of us seek to recharge our batteries, collect our thoughts, and enjoy our own company -- is one thing. Loneliness, which no one wants to experience, is another.

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put

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