I’m a young, single, independent woman who doesn’t need a guy — but that doesn’t mean I don’t want love just as much as the next girl, and sometimes it hits me like a sucker punch to the gut when I watch my friends in long-term relationships. As happy as I am for them, the fact that I continue to be single can can sour my single-and-loving-it speech. When I’m getting into bed alone at the end of a long day, these are the things that make me jealous of my friends who are in relationships for the long haul.
- They have someone to support them. I have a lot of support from friends, but there’s definitely something different when you have a partner. I mean, that’s why they’re called partners; they’ve got someone who will have their back, always. Sometimes I wish I had that.
- They have built-in adventure buddies. I like long drives, exploring new places, and road trips. The problem is those things are more fun with someone else, and when I watch my friends go off on long weekends on romantic getaways, I get a little pang of jealousy.
- They never have to eat alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love eating alone. I do it all the time. But that’s why it gets kind of old. There are days when I want nothing more than to come home to dinner with someone, sharing a meal as we share our lives. That sounds corny, but there’s a reason it’s a cliche – because it’s actually kind of awesome.
- They have a sounding board. There are so many friends I trust with my worries and ideas, but I spread them out over several people, because I worry about overloading them with the workings of my brain. The nice thing about a boyfriend or girlfriend is that they’re signing up to hear about what goes on inside your head, and I want that.
- Love is nice. Falling for someone is an intoxicating experience. I can’t really imagine feeling strongly enough about one person that I’d want to tie my life to theirs, but the glow I see on my friend’s faces when they talk about their significant others is enough to convince me it’s something worth having.
- Their search is over. Let’s be honest, dating can be really exhausting. It’s a whirlwind and exciting, at times, but broken hearts on repeat can make me sick of the game. Choosing one person to spend all your time and affections on probably presents its own challenges, but what a relief it must be to take yourself off the dating market.
- They always have a person. I heartily subscribe to the idea that your “person” doesn’t necessarily have to be a romantic one, but it definitely adds a dimension to a relationship. It’s someone who knows you, and likes you, and knows the bad parts about you but sticks around anyway. I’m in awe of my friend’s relationships, because I know how hard it is for them to make it work, but they stick to it. It seems like the closest thing we might have to magic.
