I felt unhappy about my relationship status for a long time. It seemed like everyone around me was dating, and I was missing out on so much. I beat myself up when my crushes didn’t like me back and wondered if there was something wrong with me. I also thought that I was not pretty enough to have a partner.
But after what seemed like forever, I realized that I’m happy with my single status. After a non-stop stream of crushes since the age 13, I’m finally in a place where I can control my infatuation with the person I like. Unfortunately, I can’t turn my feelings off; if I could, I absolutely would.
I came to this realization by looking at my goals and thinking about how I can achieve them. As a senior in college, I plan to research and apply for jobs all the while enjoying my last year at UF. I also realized it’s not the end of the world if I’m not in a relationship. There is absolutely nothing wrong with neither my appearance nor me. I am still young and have the rest of my life ahead of me.
My failed experience with past crushes brought me to this good place. The problem was my shyness. Then I gained the confidence to tell guys I liked them, but I faced rejection and sometimes ruined friendships. I decided that I wouldn’t go out of my way to force a relationship but instead would let it happen naturally. If I was having doubt about whether or not someone liked me back, it was likely because they didn’t. Otherwise, they made their intentions clear. I also have realized that if someone doesn’t care about me, why would I want to be with them? This allowed me to not get hung up on crushes. With this, I am satisfied with my single status, and I know that the future is open to countless possibilities.
I saw social media posts of my friends in relationships and felt that I missed out. I thought, “Why hasn’t this happened to me yet? Am I doing something wrong?” Over time, I realized that everyone lives their life at their own pace. People prioritize different things at different times. It took me so long to realize this, but I’m happy I finally have. I’ve also reached a point where I can feel happy for my friends in relationships. I learned to stop feeling jealous and instead feel excited for my friends who have significant others who care for them.
I’m prioritizing myself even more. With my current schedule, I don’t even have time for a relationship! So what? I have been blessed with so many great experiences and opportunities this past year. I am happy that I have supportive friends in my life. No matter what your current relationship status is, there are positives to your situation. Self-reflection is crucial in realizing that.