Have You Not Met Anyone Yet?
Mhairi Turner
December 18, 2017
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2017 begins to draw to a close and it's officially the end of my first ever semester at university! Assignment week last week had me moving in permanently to the library and after a very stressful few days, I am so thankful to be back in my own town, my own home and my own bed. Being home has made me feel especially Christmas-sy, with decorations being put up and family from near and far making appearances. It's such a lovely feeling to be able to relax and enjoy myself without the stress of outstanding coursework looming.
Those of you who know me will know that I have been single for a little over six months now and I am thoroughly enjoying focusing on myself and my self-love. However, as lovely as being at home for Christmas is, the extra family members and extra love that's flying around the place came with those awkward little questions.
"Any men on the scene, Mhairi?"
"Surely, you've found yourself a handsome, young fella down in Winchester?"
"How's the love life?"
"Have you not met anyone new yet?"
This being the first Christmas I have been single for for a while, the questions took me by surprise to say the least. What am I supposed to answer to that? "No, Auntie Rachel, I don't have a boyfriend, but I do rather enjoy a drunken snog every once in a while!" Somehow, I can't see this going down too well, it was clear that I needed to have something scripted for this sort of awkward encounter over the festive period.
I thought about lying, fabricating this dream boat I had hiding down in Winchester just to avoid the tragic-ness that is my single-dom. However, I decided against this option due to the likelihood of people asking to see pictures, or messages or (GOD FORBID) meet this fragment of my imagination. No, that was not the way to approach this one.
It dawned on me that, despite feeling so crappy and alone sometimes, there was actually nothing to be ashamed of by being single, especially at my age. I'm only nineteen for Christ's sake! As I said earlier, I am greatly enjoying learning to love myself and put myself first for once. No longer am I having to work around two schedules when it comes to planning my week, I don't have to think about anyone else if I want to run off and do something spontaneous and reckless. I am enjoying my freedom, this new found love of myself and, most importantly, the extra time I am spending with those people that have always been there and always will, "my day ones". I am loving getting drunk and silly with my friends, dancing the night away to trashy music in the student union without the worry of what the other half might think. I am enjoying having movie nights and sleepovers on the daily with people I had been turning down in favour of spending the night with my partner.
After a lot of contemplating, I came to the conclusion that I was not ashamed, and should anyone ask me this December where my new man is, I shall simply say. "My other half is me, I'm loving spending time with myself at the moment"
Females are strong as hell, bad-ass bitches. Why did society decide we needed anyone else to have a bright and fulfilling life? Believe in your inner Beyonce, prove that you're just fine on your own.
