Love Actually : 100% Single: I (Don’t) Got You Babe

Brandt Ranj, Staff Writer
November 17, 2011
Filed under Opinion

Well, you might notice something a little bit different this week — and no, it’s not just the obnoxious amount of pre-Thanksgiving Christmas hype. My column title has temporarily changed, as I promised one of the first friends I made here at Le Moyne that I would for the week of her birthday. The back story is that when I came to college I was recently single and would go up to any girl I met and tell them:

“I’m single, completely single, 100 percent single, I could not be more single than I am right now.”

And over two years later it’s still true — who’d have thunk?

Being single isn’t really all that terrible. It can actually be a lot of fun depending on the situation. Sure, you’re free to have a one night stand or a “lost weekend” with whomever you may choose, but the perks don’t stop there. The lack of obligation means more time devoted to things that involve you. Take time for hobbies you’ve always been interested in but never had the time or money for; the world is your oyster.

The one thing I’ve found truly annoying about being single, however, is that you’re essentially living in a couples’ world. Movies, music and basically any other media revolve around two people finding each other, falling deeply in love and settling down for a wonderful life together. Strong single protagonists are a little harder to find, and by the end of the piece of media they’ve likely seen the error of their ways, such as the titular character in “(500) Days of Summer.”

Being a third wheel, something I touched upon earlier in the semester, is equally as annoying. Going through time being a single entity is one thing, but having to be surrounded by some couple’s cloud of love is annoying. Can anyone else attest to being asked “Am I going on too long?” when someone you know has a new crush and then having to awkwardly tell them to go on?

Another thing — and this is directed at you “taken” folks — don’t give constant advice. Sometimes, but seldom is it really necessary to tell your good friend that “the minute you stop looking someone will find you.” Equally as annoying can be when a potential prospect falls through and the “They don’t know what they’re missing” line comes into play. Yes, couples, we know you mean well, but depending on the situation, we likely already know that. A day off-campus just to shoot the breeze would probably be a lot more effective at easing a troubled mind.

Honestly, I don’t think that being single is all too bad on its own. More free time and less restriction is a great lifestyle. It’s just living in a sea of couples that can get bothersome and distressing. Knowing that eventually (maybe even sooner than later) a special someone will come into your life should be enough to keep your chin up until it happens.

That said, never feel as though you need to be in a relationship to be happy because it’s a lot less fun to be in a relationship and realize you’re unhappy, but that’s another column.