Singleness Awareness Day
Every year on February 14 couples across the globe celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a romantic holiday with special dinners, candy, and flowers to demonstrate passionate love for significant others. However, while Valentine’s can be an enjoyable holiday for couples, it can be hard if you are single.
To combat some of the stigma surrounding singleness, Dustin Barnes is credited for creating Singles Awareness Day, celebrated annually on February 15. When Barnes and his friends were in high school in 2001, they were single on St. Valentine’s Day. Instead of being upset, they decided to celebrate being single. The idea quickly caught on and is now recognized around the world. In honor of this day, here are some benefits of singleness.
You are free to come and go.
When a person has a significant other, they do many things together as a couple. If they do things alone, they often first make sure the other person is okay with it. Sometimes, couples may even argue over what one does with or without them. Coordinating with someone else’s schedule and opinions is not bad, but it is different and limiting. This is not a factor when single.
It can be scary to go to dinner alone; many people feel awkward or judged. But the truth is, as long as you are honoring God, it’s okay. You are not looking for man’s approval but God’s. So don’t be so concerned with what others are thinking or saying. And if it helps, just remember that people are often so self-focused that they don’t notice you as you think they do.
You don’t have to worry about forgetting anything.
This one is a bit silly but still notable. It is common for people to forget a birthday or anniversary. Sometimes people in a relationships try to remember even more details, such as what they wore when they first went out with you, where they went, what they ate, or the movie they watched. Occasionally, a person might feel that you don’t care about them if you don’t remember these details, which can get stressful. All you need to know when you’re single is your birthday, as well as your friends and family’s.
You have more time to spend with God.
In 1 Corinthians 7:8, Paul wrote, “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried as I do.” He goes on in verses 32-35 to explain why it’s beneficial to be single, saying that singleness allows you more time to focus on the Lord. On the other hand, a married person still can focus on the Lord but also has to focus on their spouse. Their attention is divided. He lets readers know it’s okay to be married (marriage is, after all, a wonderful structure designed by God for His glory and our good), but closer intimacy with God is a benefit Paul experienced from being single.
While being in a loving, God-centered relationship is beautiful, this does not mean that being single is bad. Perhaps you haven’t met the right person yet, or perhaps, like Paul, you have chosen to remain single and dedicate your life to serving the Lord. Whatever the reason, it is okay to be single. Embrace the benefits of singleness, and enjoy Single Awareness Day today!