There’s a viral Tik tok that discusses how men aren’t competing with other men as much as they are competing with women’s peace, and I believe that applies greatly to my situation, in which I have been single for most of my adult life and am very content with that. I enjoy my solitude. I like my private space. I have a balanced social life. I love having the freedom and means to do pretty much whatever I want without having to consider someone else all the time. It’s great.

I genuinely wonder if I’m one of those people who aren’t equipped for relationships, because the older I get and the longer I live like this, the more scrutiny I give towards men, because if I’m going to bring someone in to change my peace, it better be for a good reason and sure as hell better not be negatively disruptive. I know I’m not the only single lady who feels this way, and I think it’s interesting because it counters the “single women turn desperate and lonely the older they get” narrative.