The single life is something we mock. We talk about how horrible it is to celebrate holidays on our own, how terrible it is to walk into a party without a date, and how awful it feels when our families ask us (once again) if we’re ever going to find the right person.

But maybe those already in couples don’t understand.

Being single is an exciting time, a time in which we have more choices, more independence, and perhaps even more fun than when we’re in a couple. We get to learn about ourselves, who we are and what we truly enjoy. This is a time we all should embrace, rather than a time to try to avoid.

Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to find your true love, maybe it’s time to fall in love with your single life first. Not only is it going to help you enjoy the moments you experience now, but you’re also going to be able to embrace that future partner with the confidence of knowing who you really are.

When we simply focus on finding someone else, we can forget to think about what we like, what we want, and who we are. And that’s when we end up in relationships that are unbalanced and just wrong for our needs.

For today, be okay with being single. Be okay with being by yourself. After all, you do have options and you do have a life outside of dating. Don’t you?

Family Couples, Family, Love, Relationships, Single

Thanksgiving is here already, reminding us to cherish the things we have in our lives as well as the people we have in our lives. It’s a time to gather with family and friends, eat, and simply be merry.

So, where does that leave your new relationship?

Typically, this is the point of the year where couples bring home their significant others to meet the folks. And as a result, it’s a tense time of year, filled with arguing, discomfort, and often post-turkey breakups.

To avoid this kind of mood killer for your holiday, you have a few options.

• Go for it – That’s right, take your new online date to the table for turkey dinner. After all, you have a great story about how you met, assuming the dating site isn’t anything too risque.
• Go for part of it – If your family can handle it, take your date over for just a dessert plate. This way, your date will be able to meet everyone, without it being a full dinner situation.
• Go separately – If the relationship is still a little new, simply go your separate ways on this special day and commit to seeing and meeting the families at the next major holiday. No pressure, no tension – just more time to see if this person is truly someone you want to bring home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Conversation Topics, Family Family, Food, Friends, Holidays, Relationships

‘Tis the season for more family gatherings than ever before, so is this the best time to bring your online dating match-up to tag along?

Some dating advice says sure, they’re just like any other date.

But when you’re new to talking to each other, you might want to rethink this option.

First of all, meeting anyone’s family is a big deal. And a situation in which everyone is going to feel nervous. If your family isn’t big on the online dating concept, you might spend more of your time explaining why you’re certain your date isn’t a stalker than actually talking to each other.

If you don’t already know a lot about the date, you might be fielding angry looks from them and from your family as you try to manage a coherent sentence about their background and hobbies.

Meeting the family also has marriage connotations which might leave someone feeling like this was more than just any other date – even if you just met. You might be asked when the wedding is and just how long you’ve known this person which can become awkward after the third or fourth time.

In the end, it’s your call on whether to bring a date to grandma and grandpa’s, but you might want to consider leaving them out – it’s a gift they’ll be sure to treasure.

Family, Relationships Family, Holidays, Marriage, Parents