2015 was quite a year for me. Although my bestie Courtney informed me yesterday that not many people actually really enjoy reading a list of people’s accomplishments in an FB status on NYE 😉 (not really a shock-don’t tell me you don’t have a secret love/hate reaction to social media on New Year’s) my summary is that I continued to forge wonderful friendships with people from all over the world, traveled to places I had both dreamed of forever and never thought I would visit, and graduated from Grad school. Not a bad year, at.all. In fact, an absolutely luxurious, dreamy, glittery, float-y year! (Cue balloons.)
HNY!!!
Despite the amazing adventures and accomplishments that came with 2015, the romance-area of my life didn’t exactly end how I expected, to say the least.
For most people, the conclusion of a year no doubt brings on self-reflection. The things we could have done differently, what we are most proud of, and our hopes to do better in the coming year. The promise of a fresh start is so alluring, it’s almost impossible not to feel excited and motivated to reach the many goals we set out for ourselves as the clock strikes midnight (note: my hopes for a Dry January have already been crushed with this delish cabernet I am currently enjoying).
I’m definitely not the first person to say that in order to look towards our future, we must understand our past. Therefore, I thought to re-kick off my blog for 2016, it may be interesting (read: amusing) to list (not actually 2,015, although I actually may be able to list that many) a few reasons why I was single in the year 2015. No doubt that very few people actually care particularly why I was single – however – hopefully there is something on this list that you can understand, relate to, laugh at, or at least raise a mothaf*n glass to:
1) One of my best friends I had met at university and I really enjoyed spending a lot of time drinking bubbles together, living in leggings, eating cheese, blasting James Taylor, and spying on the cute boys in the flat across the street. Absolutely no shame there – don’t tell me that doesn’t take you back to some seriously awesome junior high school days.
2) I read pertinent sections of almost 25 academic texts, interviewed 20 brides about one of the best days of their lives, interviewed 20 wedding industry members about the jobs they are so passionate about, and then wrote a 137-page dissertation on a topic that I am completely.in.love.with. And then was awarded highest honors on the project.
Hells to the yeah!
3) Scene: London, Papa John’s Pizza
Me: Hi, I’d like the butter-garlic sauce please!
PJ’s Girl: Okay….and what kind of pizza would you like?
Me: Oh no, no pizza. Just the butter.
4) I spent WAY WAY WAYYYYYYYY too much time “on the hook” for someone who didn’t deserve it. (If you don’t know what “on the hook” means – check out How I Met Your Mother, Season 5, Episode 16.)
5) This was the 6th year I have spent studying, researching, and reading about weddings. For both professional, and leisure purposes. I CAN’T HELP MYSELF FROM LOVING BEING A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY. Which also just happens to be the least interesting topic of “work” conversation with men on a first date. Can’t figure out why…..
6) I (mostly) stayed off of dating apps and websites. Because I (mostly) stayed off of dating apps and websites, I spent more time with incredible friends, and focused my attention on them while traveling, at the pub, their flat, uni, or a party.
7) I did not spend more than 2.5 months in the same city.
Greece in April – BTW, last person on this horse was Khloe Kardashian. This means we’re basically besties now.
8) Scene: London, my local Starbucks:
Gentleman Behind Me In Line: Oh, I love that tattoo on your foot! Do you have any other tattoos?
Me: Yes, I have another and I’m about to get a third!
GBMIL: Oh really….where?! (sneaky flirty smile)
Me: Haha – its on my other foot, and getting the third on my wrist! I like yours too! Do you have a shop in London you can recommend?
****chatted up for another 15 minutes. preparing to give my card with phone number on it****
GBMIL: Oh, a wedding planner, that’s cool! I was just at this amazing wedding last weekend, it was Black Tie, the whole works, and Elton John was there! Maybe I could talk to the couple and get their planner’s info, set you up with a job here!
Me: Wow, that would be amazing!! Who was getting married, a friend of yours or a family member?
GBMIL: Oh ummm no, actually…it was a friend of my girlfriend’s.
Me: ……. Well nice chatting with you, bye!
9) Adele released her new album in November. So, like the rest of the world’s population, I’ve just been ya know, dehydrating myself through tears of pain and joy. I mean, hello…….it’s me.
10) I spent one too many nights being upset about someone or something that didn’t make me happy.
11) I think I have a glitter problem. I think I’m unwilling to change this glitter problem.
Why would you drink prosecco out of a bottle that isn’t covered in glitter? I don’t understand.
12) The majority of my close friends are married, engaged, coupled, or parents. And I absolutely love them for that- they are examples of what a true partnership should look like, and are something to aspire to. They are rocks in my life. The minority of my friends are single, confidANTS, beautiful, FUN, supportive, understanding, positive, confidENT, fabulous, and enjoy staying out past 9 pm. And I absolutely love them. They are rocks in my life.
Just a few of them – aren’t they pretty?
13) I was too busy having drinks with Bradley Cooper, David Beckham, Emma Watson and George Clooney. Like, actually.
14) Wayyyyy too much Netflix and Chill. Michael Scott and Chandler Bing are funny, but not that funny.
15) Sometimes it was (is) still really hard to believe in my awesome-ness, and to engage in actions that followed through on those good thoughts, instead of making choices that didn’t (don’t) really show my worth.
All in all, this list isn’t actually too scary. In fact, many of the things on here are pretty great! And the things that aren’t too great, are great to understand going into a new year full of new milestones and adventure, with some incredible people by my side (but also if those people could include another dose of David Beckham, that would like, be seriously appreciated New Year’s Gods…).
So my friends, if this is some of the explanation for being on my own this past year, then I don’t feel too badly in saying:
This is (2,015 reasons) why I’m single.
The Sparkly Single Life 