Life Lesson #15: There is absolutely nothing wrong with being single

For the majority of my life, I have been single. I am not very good at relationships, I am assuming this is due to the fact that I have a habit of dating complete douche bags. My longest relationship is 4 months. Yes, I am 25 years old and I the longest I have been with someone is 4 months. This does not bode well for me in the marital category.
I have no problem being single. I have been friends with girls who need to be in relationships and I am seriously bothered and stunned by them. You know which girls I am talking about, the ones who have to have a man, the ones who go from one relationship to another without taking time to even change their Facebook status before jumping into someone else's arms. I look at these women and study them as if they are some type of interesting species, which to me they are. I have always loved my alone time, being unaccountable to another human being, being able to read whenever I want, to relax in a bath, spend the night in if I so chose. Why would you want to tie yourself to another human being 24/7? I can understand if you are in love with this person but these woman do it with every man, constantly. It leaves me befuddled. (Yet another great word)
Of course, there are parts of relationships that I adore. I love having someone to talk to late at night, someone who I can share my funny stories with, laugh with, complain to just to unload. I like to cuddle and feel secure. I love getting dolled up and going to fancy restaurants, having adult conversations, having a guy walk me to the car, hold the door for me, escort me home. And who doesn't enjoy flirting and being flirted with? Who doesn't like feeling appreciated and adored in return?
The problem with being single is you get lonely. You forget what it's like to have someone else touch you and I don't mean sexually (although God knows I've forgotten what that feels like, too). I mean you forget what it feels like to have someone hold your hand just to feel connected to you. You forget what it feels like to be in the crook of someone's arms and feel as if that space was carved just for you. You forget how warm a hand can feel on your shoulder, how it can root you to a spot when you feel as if anger will send you flying. You forget what butterflies feel like when you see the person is calling you or coming towards you. You forget what it feels like to be part of something greater than yourself, to contribute to a relationship, to give something of yourself, to risk yourself on a daily basis hoping against hope that he in turn with risk with you.
While there is nothing wrong with being single, humans were not meant to be alone. We were meant to be part of a pair, as were all creatures (with the exception of Praying Mantis or Black Widows and such). I'm independent and I pride myself on knowing that I can be happy alone, that I don't need a man to find fulfillment, and I don't. I'm not looking for my better half, if I were, I'd never find him. I don't think someone else should "complete you", I think if you aren't complete on your own, you aren't ready for someone else. If you are searching for someone else to make you a better person, you will always be severely disappointed. I think the most you can hope for is to find someone who makes you a better you; someone who makes you want to be a better person simply by being around him; someone who inspires you, motivates you, loves you beyond measure and who never measures you. Do I want that? Of course. Do I believe true love exists? Absolutely. But is it out there for me? That I don't know.
I have to know that I am okay on my own, that should I not have someone out there for me, I will be okay. I have to know that while fairy tales do exist, mine may not involve a Prince Charming. I have to tell myself this, make myself believe this, set my expectations low so that should I be 65 and single, I will be okay with it and not dying of despair, wallowing in unrequited love. Will I ever fall in love? I hope so. I hope I know what it's like to look into someone's eyes and feel as if everything has stopped, that the world is simply to small to contain what we feel for one another. But if I let myself believe that all I have dreamt of, the imperfect perfect man for me exists and will find me, what happens if it doesn't come true? What will I tell myself than?
There is nothing wrong with being single. I would much rather be single than in a loveless relationship or in a relationship wondering if I settled or if I was missing out on something more. If I marry, I want no regrets, no wanderings. In the meantime, I will watch my friends fall in love, help them plan weddings, date when I feel the need or urge and do my best to raise someone else's Prince Charming because come Hell or High Water he will have a Happily Ever After...