With the arrival of Valentine’s Day, I’m sure that some of you were not too happy.

Gals, maybe some of you tried to ignore the day altogether, or perhaps you spent the day watching “chick flicks” and eating chocolate with your other single friends, lamenting the fact that there’s no man in your life. Guys, I have no idea what you’re thinking on that day.

Whatever your sentiments, I have news for you: Being single can be a blessing. Yes, you heard me right.

For many, it is a big goal to find a spouse, but it is not the most important thing in life. Life doesn’t begin when you meet your spouse. Life is now. If we live our single lives to the fullest, our married life (and life in general) will be so much richer. We should use this time of singleness to the fullest to explore new interests and nurture our gifts. Now is our time to find our corner of the world, how we are supposed to use our time, talents and gifts to better the world.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even find your soul mate as you go about this. Being single means that you can simply go about your day and make plans without thinking that you have to tell so-and-so or get his or her input before doing so. Thinking about going to graduate school or getting a job somewhere warmer? You don’t need to limit yourself to schools or jobs near your significant other. You are not defined by another person. You have the freedom to figure out who you really are. Sometimes it’s nice to be independent and fly solo.

Many people of college age are in serious relationships, engaged or already married. It is good to be able to have the advantage of watching other couples and relationships and seeing how they work things out. It is also good to see the problems that couples commonly encounter and need to work through. We singles have the advantage of seeing these things beforehand, and I think that we singles will have strengthened relationships down the road because of this.

There are definitely advantages to the single life and to waiting longer to meet the right person. Of course, it isn’t always easy to be single. Life sometimes seems like a waiting game. Some people have told me that it’s when they stopped looking that they finally met their spouse. maybe that means your heart is being saved for that special person you are meant to marry. I think that’s a beautiful thought.

Yes, that will be wonderful to find the person you’re meant to be with, but there is so much more to life than this. Don’t define your worth based on another person.

People who are in a (good) relationship, engaged, or married: I am so happy for you. Don’t worry, I am definitely not putting down couples. It must be wonderful to meet the right person. Until then, however, let’s remember that our lives don’t start when we meet Mr. or Mrs. Right.

Maybe we already know him or her and just don’t know that we’ll marry them. Maybe it will be another 20 years (or more) before our spouse comes into our life. Maybe you’re even called to live the single life. Let’s love life and live it to the fullest. May we be a blessing to others and, eventually, a blessing to the person who will bless our life abundantly.