My Being Single Status Has Just Notched Up Another Year

OMG how the years have flown by. In year 2000, I left my partner and started my life as a single girl. I can’t believe that it’s been 24 years by myself. Being single has been a blessing in a number of ways.

I’m far from perfect, but I have achieved a huge amount over the past 24 years and would like to share with you some of my strategies if you are single too:

1. I celebrate my wins, whether they are big or small.

   There are thousands of wins over the past 24 years, but each one is just as important as the other. My family’s achievements, buying my own home, starting a new business, creating a new recipe that tastes delicious—to name a few. My happy dance comes out every day. At the end of each day, I reflect and celebrate how lucky I am. Some days, just getting the washing dry, reading the last few pages of a good book, taking the dog for a walk around the block, and keeping up with my exercise regime every day is worth celebrating.

   
   

2. Be your own handywoman or learn to ask.

   Most things I can tackle, and while Bunnings has become my favourite store, I’m never too afraid to ask for help or good advice when it comes to fixing things myself. You don’t have to know how to do everything, but be prepared to give it a go and research where you can go if you need help.

   
   

3. There is strength in solitude – because solitude is a gift.

   Don’t be afraid to sit by yourself because solitude is priceless. It’s often in the quietest of moments that you listen to your heart. I love my own company, and while that sounds selfish to some degree, I’m very comfortable in my own skin. I rarely feel lonely, and it’s okay to recognise loneliness, but I never beat myself up about it either. When you can escape the noise of life, it is often those times when you have the best ideas and creativity.

   
   

4. Build your own joy.

   You don’t need a partner to dance in the kitchen, plan a picnic, or throw a dinner party. Happiness is homemade, so give it a go.

   
   

5. Family and friendships are everything.

   Invest in your family and friends. Help them when they are down, laugh with them, cry with them, and always, always show them how much you love them. Investing time in the people that matter to you the most is gold.

   
   

6. Keep growing.

   Make the time to start learning something new. I have learnt more in the past 10 years than I ever did in my twenties. Have fun learning and absorbing new skills, and add to your wisdom. As you get older, those rose-coloured glasses take on a whole new meaning.

   
   

7. Define yourself, not your relationship status.

   Single is not a label – it is a lifestyle. It’s a courageous way of existing. I’ve filled my life with love, and while it looks like a different lifestyle from some people’s fairy tale, it is mine, and I am proud of it.

   
   

8. Make life delicious.

   Celebrate the food you eat, the recipes you love, the people you eat with, and be happy to set the table for one and enjoy.

   
   

9. Get out into the world and explore.

   I have solo-travelled extensively throughout the world and around Australia. Be safe and sensible, but don’t let being by yourself stop you. There are lots of options out there for singles.

   
   

10. Collect your own tribe.

    Be inspired by some of the incredible humans in this world. Get involved and surround yourself with people who share the same values as you. Learn what makes them tick and collect the ones that matter.

    
    

11. Keep above the ground.

    Focus on your health and your longevity.

So what rocks your boat? I have a wonderful world out there of friends, family, loved ones, staff, etc., who are all very important in my life, but I feel really comfortable just being single – flaws and all.

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