Troubleshooting the Common Issues We Face As Singles Here is some advice coming from a single who has been there. This is just a beginning...there is a lot more to say on this topic, and I will add to this as my website evolves.
The Cheese Stands Alone: All of my friends have moved on! Has everyone in your life developed a romantic relationship or moved on to marriage and children? At times, all of us single folks have felt like that extra sock leftover from the laundry that just doesn't seem to have a match. It’s disheartening and frankly...it sucks. My advice is this...don’t cut off your coupled-up or married friends, yet don’t spend all of your time with them. Pursue friendships with other singles, get out and meet new people, and be open to thinking outside the box. There are many different ways to meet other singles, and they all have their pitfalls. However, with a little perseverance, you can find one that works for you.
Dealing with the one(s) who got away: Face it. We all have dealt with the issue of missing an ex or wishing we were still with him or her. This is the subject of countless songs, movies, books, and articles. There is lots of advice on how to deal with these feelings, and many times the advice sadly does not work. Having dealt with this issue myself and having done a great deal of research, my best piece of advice is to LIVE YOUR LIFE. While you may think of your former boyfriend or girlfriend all the time, sitting around and wishing you handled a situation differently is counter-productive. If you feel as though you made a mistake in the relationship, apologize. Let your former flame know that you are open to keeping in touch, but don’t force the issue. Begging for another chance, Googling him/her all the time to see what he/she is up to, trying to bump into him/her is often a waste of time. Go about your business but do try to look your best when you leave the house (‘cause you never know...). It is better to do something, whether it involves taking up a new hobby or simply sitting at the coffee shop with your laptop, than to sit around doing nothing at all.
Happy Family: Family gatherings and holidays are no fun when you are the only single. I’ll admit it...I’m infamous for skipping out on family events for this reason. In earlier years, I missed out on my nephew’s Christening due to the fact that I felt awkward about going it alone. Looking back, I wish I had approached the situation differently. Bringing a friend along or attending only part of the event is often better than missing out on it entirely.
Picky, Picky, Picky: “You’re too picky!” We’ve all heard it before and we often start to believe that we should relax our standards, especially as we see our contemporaries pairing off. Examining our list of “dealbreakers” and asking ourselves “am I being ridiculous?” is a good idea, but lowering the bar is not always the way to go. If you really think about it, you’ll realize that it is much easier to “get married” than it is to “get single”.