As someone who’s never been in a relationship, I’ve had my days where I wish I had a significant other or someone to call mine. There would be moments where I asked myself if I were ever good enough to be with someone or if there was ever something wrong with me that kept me from getting a boyfriend.

However, over time I have encouraged myself to not always look at the fact that I am alone, but to embrace how I am single and that it’s not always a bad thing.

There are many things that people believe they can’t have or can’t do without a boyfriend or girlfriend, but that’s not the case. They believe that they are unable to go out to a fancy restaurant or ride the ferris wheel at the fair. The thing is, there’s no rule that says you can’t do these things while being single. Go out and do these things with a friend without having to feel obligated to have a significant other.

As teenagers, we are in a critical time period where everything is being thrown at us. This includes school, college, work, and preparation for the future. Taking this time to focus on you and the choices you’ll be making is good and can make a big difference. The main focus in our lives shouldn’t be about finding love and someone who we want to spend time with. Sure, it’s not a bad thing, but it shouldn’t be the number one priority. Working on you can be one the best things you can do.

It can get lonely at times when you’re the only one without a boyfriend or girlfriend, and that’s understandable. It’s not a bad thing to have someone special to walk through life with, but it’s also okay to do those things alone. You should embrace the fact that you’re single, because there’s nothing that says it’s not okay.

Whether you’re in a relationship or riding solo, you are still capable of doing the same things and focus on the path you want to take for the future.