There’s no doubt one of the top 100 reasons you could not wait to get back to JMU this fall, besides the Quad and late night Chanello’s, was for the boys. But maybe you shouldn’t be rushing straight into a relationship just because the sun has set on your summer romance. It is the start of a new school year; time to get re-acquainted with old friends and alarm clocks. There will be plenty of time to find a beau when the first snow falls, so if you’re single right now, live it up! Here’s ten good reasons to reassure you now is not the time to be settling down…
1. I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T – do you know what that means?
Webbie couldn’t have spelled it out any better for us in his one-hit-wonder rap. Being single means being independent, being free to do as you please with your time and life. You rely solely on yourself. To some, it might sound scary to be alone. But you need to experience “me” time in order to appreciate the “we” time. And trust me, you won’t be alone forever!
2. Save Money on Phone Bills
Hard to believe those thousands of texts exchanged between you and your guy, saying nothing more than “hey babe” and “miss u” or “luv u snuffleupagus cutie pie can’t w8 2 c u l8r!!!!” really do rack up the Verizon bill (unless you’re on the ‘Family Plan’ or some other god-sent plan that includes the majority or all of the bill to be paid for by mom and dad). Of course it is possible to still be a fluent cell phone user when you are single. But taking a break from the whole cyber world in general could be what you need to get your priorities straight this year!
3. Save Money in General
Aside from the phone bill, just think about how much money you spend going out with your man (taking it you went Dutch every once and a while, of course). There were the movies ($40 for tickets, $60 for yummy snacks), the dinners at fancy Italian restaurants ($80, not including tip), the Christmas and birthday gifts ($100, more or less depending on how much you loved him), and those late-night cuddle sessions (priceless; but if you want to get technical, gas is about $3.50 a gallon…). Now all of that money can be spent on YOU. Go ahead; buy new clothes, pedicures, that new Coach wristlet you’ve been eyeing since last fall – you name it! Splurge a little; it’s okay to be selfish sometimes!
4. Save the Drama for you Mama!
If your summer romance went something like Sam and Ronnie’s, you deserve a break! (Even viewers felt the stress of that relationship). No matter how many times that sweetheart said, “I’m done,” we knew she wasn’t! Anything worse than an unhealthy relationship is an unhealthy on-and-off relationship. You are either getting stringed or stringing yourself along and trailing behind is the false hope that one day, things between you two will be perfect. Hate to admit it, but it probably would’ve been easier to just listen to Ronnie’s advice in the first place: never fall in love at the Jersey Shore!
5. ‘Where dem Girls at?’
Don’t think just because you do not have a significant other all of your Saturday nights will magically open up. We do go to a school where it’s 60% female, which means you always have your best girlfriends! They’ve been there for you pre- and post- boyfriend, helping you craft the perfect message to post on his Facebook wall after you decided you liked him (flirty, but not too suggestive) then helping you choose, and later devour, the perfect “I just got dumped” Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor (Chubby Hubby, but not too chubby). Dust off that black mini-skirt and go out together – just like old times!
6. Play the Field
In today’s world and if you wanted to, you could go to a party, dance with a boy, have a flirty beer pong match against a different boy, and end up in the corner at the end of the night discussing the Casey Anthony trial with a yet a different boy! The possibilities are endless when there’s no other half – as well as the prospects. You never know who your next flame could be unless you put yourself out there!
7. Get Smart!
Less time spent with your boyfriend equals more time hitting the books. Hey, you came to college for a reason – use your time accordingly! Being single let’s you focus more on your studies and future dreams. Set a goal for yourself to make this semester your best one yet. (ECL has a 24-hour section!)
8. Personal Grooming
When you find out the guy you likes’ type is borderline skeleton, tan, brunette, and a D-cup, you bet Pippa Middleton’s long-stockings you’re buying a membership to Beach Bum and scavenging through Victoria’s Secret for the sexiest Bombshell bra you can find. Forgotten how much you loved Campus Cookies and your blonde, Taylor Swift locks, haven’t you? When you’re single, you are able to focus on what makes you feel good, and that means wearing the latest fall fashion trends that boys will just never understand – harem pants and blazers.
9. …Or Lack there of
If you don’t have a mate and aren’t looking for a mate, then Java Joe with the back-ne working behind the counter at the Starbucks sure as heck isn’t going to care you are wearing old high school sweats and mismatched socks with flip-flops. You don’t have to feel obliged to impress anyone when it’s just you! Braid your leg hair, skip a teeth brushing, save money by not buying deodorant… okay, now that I put that in writing, all of that sounds pretty gross! But you get what I’m saying; even though you can be more relaxed about it, you should still practice good hygiene when you are single!
10. You, Yourself, & You
Singleness is a period of self-reflection; you have the chance to focus on what you want out of life and, even more, what you want out of your next relationship. It is important to take time in between boys to reflect on what made and broke your past fling so you are well prepared for the next one. You’ve got eight more months for rendezvous-ing – get those grades up while you still can! Because boys are just fabulous… but so is being single.