by Meg Stepp

Created on: April 21, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I have not had boyfriend in over two years. My last relationship ended on a sour note; high school sweethearts who went to college in different states couldn't quite handle a long distance relationship. I'm 21 years old now. I am at the age where I'm enjoying the single life more than the committed life. There's a reason why a relationship is called a commitment and institutionalized people are committed relationships will drive you crazy.

There is so much more freedom in the single life than the committed life. I don't have to worry about keeping another person happy. I don't have to call and check-in or remember anniversaries or birthdays. I don't have to ignore every piece of eye candy that catches my attention. I can talk to who I want, when I want, and how I want to talk to them without feeling like I'm doing something wrong.

That doesn't mean I'm completely writing off the opposite sex for the time being. At this age, I'm more open to casual acquaintances. I like to think of it as No-Strings-Attached dating. I can go out with Chris one night, have a great time, and that's that. I don't have to remember Chris's favorite sports team or his dream car. I don't care how many dogs he had a child or why Fluffy was the most awesome cat in the world. I'm at a physical stage of life at the moment, and there's no room for emotional attachments.

To be perfectly honest, I don't have time for a boyfriend or significant other. Between work and school, I hardly have time to sleep, let alone date. Whatever time I have left is ME time. Not Chris time. Not us time. Not you time. Me time. Getting my bachelor's is more important than a boyfriend. Getting that promotion at work is more important than remembering some obscure date that doesn't mean much to me at the time anyway. It's not that I don't like relationships; I've just got better things to do. I've got enough to worry about. Chasing guys like a huntress on the prowl isn't at the top of my priorities.

I'm beginning to realize that any guy I date could potentially end up being my husband. The three female cousins that I have are already married. Two got married at age 19. One got married to her boyfriend of 8 years. At age 21, being unmarried is highly uncommon in my family. The fact that I don't have a boyfriend is beyond comprehension to my family.

I'm sure one day I'll come around. Just not today. Or tomorrow. Or next week.

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