“Myth: You will meet ’the right one some day.‘ I’ve always known that to be malarky. My life is already whole, and I am not waiting for someone ’right.’”

As a Senior Staff Writer at BuzzFeed, I cover real-life stories that explore relationships, lifestyle (including travel and beauty), and the internet's most fascinating trends.

"I enjoy my freedom, independence, and solitude, and am fiercely protective of my personal space." 

"I traveled and explored different career paths. At some point, I also wanted to have a partner to travel with and have some fun with. This is when I decided to join the dating pool but quickly realized that there were more negatives than positives. Very few are looking for meaningful relationships and are just interested in a more casual situation. It may be a symptom of dating platforms and the quality has deeply suffered. I'm still in it but contemplate being off of it every day. Single may just be enough."

"I recently, for several factors, sold my condo and moved into an apartment in downtown, and I didn't have to consult or think about impacts to anyone but myself (and my cats). I'd say the only thing 'missing' is physical intimacy, but I can get that if I want it (which I usually don't due to the options available to me), and physical touch, which I get through things like dancing, massages, etc.; physical touch doesn't have to be sexual — that was a big lesson for me."

"'He’s afraid of responsibility.' For someone like me, who sincerely wants his white picket fence, this accusation could not be further from the truth. I would gladly take on the responsibility. I welcome it."

"Both economic events inspired my life-altering relocations: first from Tulsa to Chicago, then from Chicago to Charleston, SC. I’ve also had the freedom and flexibility to pursue ongoing physical, mental, and emotional self-improvement. As a result, I’m aging slower than my peers."

"In fact, I am not waiting at all. I am living my best life, not alone or lonely. Marriage doesn't determine my happiness — I do. No pun intended."

"I tell all my friends it is better to have an empty side of the bed than having the wrong person there."

"They think marriage changed them when just age changes you just as much."

"Relationships may or may not work, but it takes the work of two people, not just one. Trust and communication are important. Until then, marriage is just one part of your life. Make your life as full as possible. Love yourself. Do your self-care. Reduce that external noise. Remind yourself of another saying — that the 'grass is always greener on the other side'; some married people secretly wish they were single, and their lives aren't perfect either."

"I have found that to be true. All of my close blood relatives are now deceased, and I am always alone. I have to work hard for my friendships; no one reaches out to me. That’s hard."

"I also don’t like that everyone assumes that this is a choice you have made; being single was not something I had planned on — people also just assume you don’t want a family, I want nothing more than to have my own family."

"My circles increasingly included people with baggage with many very bitter. Since my 50s, women in particular seem to envy me saying I made a wise decision. I agree, and since my late 40s, I have been happily single. I think not wanting children is a significant part of being at peace with the way things turned out."

"On the dating side of it, I’ve had a few relationships and they have their positives, but never really liked dating. Men can be so creepy and self-serving. Since I became disabled in my 30s, that just made dating even more daunting. I just don’t have the energy to filter through bad date after bad date. I also like having my own space, especially when it comes to my chronic pain. I don’t want a man there wanting my affection when I don’t have the energy to give it. And I’m so used to (and enjoy) having an apartment all to myself; it would be very hard to convince me to give that up for a relationship. I’m still open to the idea of one, but I’m really just not looking."

"Many people also judge you for not having gotten married, even if they are also currently unmarried due to divorce. It’s as if the failed relationship is a badge of honor or a necessary battle scar. No, thank you."

"I don't have to combine anyone else's opinions or desires into raising my child. Vacations are super simple since it's what I want to do on my schedule. With everything in life, if something isn't handled, it's on me. My mental load is way less than what others with a husband seem to be experiencing. I honestly don't see many advantages — or, upsides to marriage are quite a bit of downside, stress, and conflict."

"Maybe you are not financially set, or they are not set. Maybe other factors like aged parents you have to take care of as you get older."

"I don't envy anything from mothers and wives. If anything, I'm glad I don't face the same struggles when they start complaining about their family. I'm actually happy my life is drama-free. I live for myself, and I'm only responsible for myself instead of taking care of a manchild and self-sacrificing."

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.