The Grass is Always Greener

I spent a good portion of my life being single. Maybe it was the few extra pounds (like 100) I carried around as a child or the big bangs I sported until my freshman year of college (and they were NOT trendy then), but I blossomed a bit later than others when it came to the dating game.

By Lauren

I don’t want to admit this – especially on a website read by quite a few ladies nationwide – but I did spend a good deal of time curled up in my bed in front of romantic comedies crying about the fact that I had never found love. Or staring down other couples wondering why they found each other and I remained alone. I may or may not have even perused the local pet store for the perfect cats to accompany me on my lonely journey through life.

I questioned what was wrong with me.

I sat in front of mirrors pointing out my own imperfections.

I dreamed of all the things I would do for my boyfriend (when I found one) and patiently awaited the day when I could say, “My boyfriend this” and “My boyfriend that.”

And then I got one.

And while he is great and wonderful and does so many sweet things for me, I now find myself longing for the good old days of my complete independence. The freedom to go to the gym when I want to, to stay home and watch old episodes of Friends when I want to, to stop shaving my legs when I want to. God, there are so many perks to being single that I just did not let myself see when I had it. So many things I just did not appreciate.

Like my girlfriends. And afternoons lying in bed reading my book. And my morning routine. And my late night snack of ice cream straight from the carton.

I regret spending so much time wanting and wishing and praying for a man. Not only because I looked pathetic sitting home with a box of Cheez Its and a slew of Sandra Bullock movies on a Saturday night, but because I totally ignored what I had all along. The grass will always have a way of being greener on the other side, but it is time to appreciate what we have here and now. After all, men are great but nothing is as good as a morning-after recap with the girls.