Happy Singles Awareness Day or Valentine's Day...whatever you want to call it!

My witty sister introduced me to the holiday of "Singles Awareness". She pointed out that on February 14th, if you are single, you are very aware of it! From that point forward, she and I have celebrated Singles Awareness Day.

That subject leads me to get on my soapbox for a minute. I recently read an article in PEOPLE magazine where someone interviewed Carrie Underwood (surprise, surprise!) However, I was led to this soapbox by an answer to a question that she gave. The question was "So straight from the source: Is one of your goals to get married?" She replied, "Definitely! That’s why we are on this earth, to meet that special someone." Really Carrie...is that why we are on this earth. I don't think so! What about the nuns and the priests or that awesome person that you know that never met the right person? Does that mean they aren't fulfilling their reason to be on earth? (I know you can't believe that I'm disagreeing with the one and only Carrie Underwood.)

My grandmother asks me EVERY TIME I see her if I'm dating someone. I will admit that she does have some dementia, but why is that a question that people who haven't seen you in a while always ask? Does that define who you are? No! Of course I want to get married one day, but that's not my only goal in life. We all know "that girl" whose only goal in life is to get married. You know the one...the one who always has to have a boyfriend who searches desperately high but mostly low to finally settle just so she can say that she is married. That, to me, is a sad existence.

My grandmother also reminds me that there is not a perfect man out there. I always tell her,"I'm not looking for the perfect man...I'm looking for the perfect man for me." However, if God has decided that I'm not to get married, then I won't be miserable. As Sugarland puts it, "I aint settling or just getting by. I've had enough so-so for the rest of my life. I'm tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high, I ain't settling for anything less than everything." Marriage is not the only reason I, or you that may be reading this for that matter, was put on this earth. I am here to help people. I am here to make a difference. I am here to be in relationships, but who says they have to be romantic ones. I can take care of myself, and believe me, I'm not miserable or lonely. I have a great family and a great set of friends. I get to go on awesome adventures. I get to do a lot of things that many people don't....I'm doing what I was put here to do and am happy with me! How many married or attached people can say that??

So to all of you singles out there...embrace this day. Hallmark, Hershey, and those other big companies have just commercialized this day so they can make a profit. Be glad you aren't in a unhappy or unhealthy relationship or that you don't have to waste your hard-earned money to buy something cheesy. Celebrate who you are, and be happy!