Why it is okay to be single during the romantic seasons.
By Hudson Mize
Staff Writer
Editorial
There is no better time of year than the colder seasons to grab a blanket, drink some apple cider and cuddle up with someone you love while watching Charlie Brown.
As of October, cuffing season is now upon us. Lasting until March, this time of year is when people begin “handcuffing” themselves to others in order to form relationships during the colder months.
There is no proven biological reason why people get more romantic the colder it gets outside. However, some sources might suggest it is a drop in serotonin due to the weather and darker days.
It makes sense to grab a warm body and stick with them by the glue, treating each other like cogs and gears.
Suddenly, you’ll have someone new to be thankful for at Thanksgiving, Christmas will reward more presents and most importantly, you’ll have someone to create permanent memories with.
All of those memories serve to replace the memories of being lonely during those same times. Not to mention your grandma asking if you finally have a partner yet…
However, it’s alright to not have the ability to experience these events. If you have had past relations that ended, and now you wish to try and relight that same fire because you need another sunny day, I’ll tell you why a relationship is not that important after all.
Aside from some obvious perks of being single, such as having all your money to yourself or not having to worry about buying someone else’s whole family presents, there are actual benefits to being estranged or single.
While in college, most people may live on campus surrounded by people, or still live with their family. Students go to classrooms filled with classmates of their major, and are forced into groups.
Afterwards you may return to your dorm or home and do school work, chores, play games, or hang out with friends. You are always in motion, despite any lonely feelings.
However, there will be a time where you’ll already be at work at 10:36 a.m. and get back around 6pm. You might return to your own room or apartment with chores still needing to be done and friends too busy to play games that night.
After spending all your life around people your same age, even sharing the same room in dorms, you now have complete silence and nothing else exciting to do for the night.
Despite that needy feeling of wanting a relationship, it is necessary to learn how to live for yourself.
When in a relationship, you might unknowingly mold yourself to a character of their liking.
College and your early twenties are the years of self discovery, and in order to care for yourself, you need to understand all parts of you that you enjoy.
Sorry to say, but if that relationship you might be in doesn’t last, then you are left stranded and confused, asking yourself if it was worth it while listening to some emo songs.
You begin to understand yourself, the person you want, what you value and how those values affect you.
Instead of doing your work for someone, go out for yourself, cook for yourself, shop for yourself.
Actions that might have been done for another, now make them actions you would do for you.
Instead of staring at the ceiling wishing for the time to pass, or for someone to conveniently waltz into your arms, use that time to take a bite of new experiences.
There is something romantic about learning about yourself, more so even when learning to truly appreciate yourself and all that you can do.
Do not cast a satellite over your life – continue to bake cookies like you normally would for a nice night of watching Christmas movies.
Life does not have to be a cruel affair. Romanticize your life, even if it is lonely, to become the best you, you have ever seen.
