Reasons it’s good to be single during the holidays

Written by: Lisa Minns
Edited by: Olga Z
Joboja Staff Writers

Here we are entering the holiday season again. Didn’t we just finish with this? It starts with Thanksgiving and just snowballs one holiday after another until we are clear into Valentine’s Day. For me, I get to add my birthday as the first holiday to kick it off since it’s right before Thanksgiving. For all of us single ladies, though, it’s really December that reminds us that we are just that…single. We get the endless string of pity invites to parties, the random introductions to the other single friend that the host just happens to have invited and the lectures about how one day our prince charming will come riding in on his white horse and rescue us from our singledom. What all of our married friends apparently didn’t hear is that Prince Charming had a thing going with Snow White and now Cinderella not only now owns the kingdom, but also 50% of Charming’s income for the next couple of decades. The dwarfs are not happy about this at all. I’m here to set the record straight and point out the reasons that it’s actually a good thing to be single during the holidays as opposed to being part of a couple.

I’ll start with the obvious reasons first. There is the financial issue. Face it, if you were in a relationship, you would most likely be spending more on his gift than you would on just about anyone else’s. It’s just what we do. When you are in a relationship, your boyfriend is an incredibly important part of your life and you want to do something special for him…that ends up costing. No matter how many pre-shopping vows we make to “not go overboard,” we still do. We are women, it happens. So, without that boyfriend in your life, you are free to spend that money on say that Louis Vuitton that you’ve been eyeing. The smokin’ hot outfit at the mall could be all yours. No need to feel guilty either because after all, you are single, you are out there and you want to look your best. Enjoy it. A day at the spa might even be in order. Consider it your boyfriend gift to yourself.

That takes me to my next reason…fashion. If you are in a relationship you are most likely invited to things such as company parties, the family boat party where you know nobody is going to be at but you have to go to, the boring friend’s party, etc. It’s the same group of family and friends no matter where you go. This requires a new outfit for each event. You are not going to risk getting the disapproving up down look from any other female guests. Well, guess what? You are single! You are going to a whole different set of parties. This means a totally new set of people at every party which means you could just get a couple of incredibly smokin’ hot outfits and rotate them. This saves you money which actually could take you back to the Louis Vuitton that we previously discussed if you really think about it. Plus, each party has a new circle of people, and you are single. You can mix and mingle until you just can’t take it anymore because you are not tied to one person’s side. This can be fun. There is comfort knowing someone has your back at a party but there is also freedom in not being part of a couple. Walk in with your head held high and scope out the scene. See that hottie over there by the steak tar tar? Go talk to him! You have the freedom to do this so take advantage of it. Plus, you also have the freedom to surprise the hottie with a kiss under the mistletoe if you like. Just make sure he’s also there alone before you do this. If the party doesn’t work out, pull out outfit number two tomorrow night and see what’s roaming around at that party. You’ve got nothing to lose and won’t be hurting anyone’s feelings in your mingling efforts.

Another advantage to being single during the holidays has to do with the getting ready location. Let me explain: So many times, when you are in a relationship and you have an event to go to let’s say after work, you end up both getting ready at whomever’s house is closer. This can mean closer to your job, closer to the event location, whatever. Ladies, how many times have you stuffed everything you can possibly think that you are going to need in a duffle bag the night before and prayed that nothing melted in the car while you were at work, got wrinkled or worse…that you forgot something? You sit there all day running a list through your mind….shampoo and conditioner? Check. Hairspray? Check. Make-up? Check. Dress? Check. Heels? Check. Cute little purse to match? Maybe check? Oh, I hope it’s a check. What will I do if it’s not a check? Sound familiar? When you are single, you actually get to get ready for a party in your own home! I know! Imagine that. No packing, no freaking out about possible forgotten items, and if you change your mind on what you want to wear it’s ok because it’s your house. Your clothes are all there. Take a minute to imagine what it’s like to not live out of a bag every time you go somewhere.

Ok, back with me? Good. One more thing that being single affords you is the luxury to choose where you want to go on the actual holidays. Well, you still have to deal with where your family wants you to go, but you don’t have to rush between your family and friends and his. It’s all you. You want to spend the entire day at your parents’ house? You can. Maybe you had some friends invite you to stop by. Go for it. Who is going to argue? Ok, so your mother might but that’s going to happen whether you are in a relationship or not. Point is, you have the freedom to decide for yourself where and when you want to go somewhere. One single friend told me that this is the best part about being single all year long. He’s a bit cynical since his last relationship ended in flames so I try not to take his words to heart. I’m afraid it might rub off. He is right though that during the holidays the freedom to choose is a good feeling.

So fellow single ladies, as you navigate yourself through the holiday season, hold your head high, put on your favorite little black dress (or 2 or 3), and raise your martini glass to each other as you pass at the parties. We are the lucky ones. We can do what we want, go where we want and buy ourselves those fabulous gifts that you just wouldn’t have the funds for if you were in a relationship. Tell yourself Happy Holidays and toast to each other. We are single, we are fabulous, and we are out of here because there just isn’t anyone that has caught our eye at this party. I think I still have that other invite in the car. You know the one….the one you said “maybe” to. See, we get to keep our options open. Happy Single Holidays!