A lot has been written about the benefits of married life, and so those of us who are married have been sitting back, all fat and happy, crowing about how life is good for us, but a new study gives good news for those folks who are single. I’ve often wondered about the romance readers out there who are single and enjoy reading about something they don’t have. I have to admit, I’ve had a distorted view, feeling bad for folks who are single, especially in today’s challenging dating world. So…this blog is for all the single folks. I came across an article about a new study, and this is what I learned:

Apparently, self-expansion and growth can happen when you’re single because singlehood can open you up to new experiences through solo activities.
Too often, single folks have been ignored in research. This is probably because the traditional view of happiness has been drilled into us by conservative men needing a woman to satisfy their every whim (not what I learned from the article – just my personal opinion).
Comfort or discomfort with singlehood depends entirely on a person’s perspective about being single. For those who were comfortable with being single and…gasp…might have even chosen this…they have a stronger tendency to explore new activities, new restaurants, take up new sports, etc. Additionally, these folks also report greater satisfaction with singlehood and life in general.
One of the most amazing findings was that, in addition to greater satisfaction with life in general, the folks who chose the single life did not fear being single, but instead had stronger feelings of autonomy, competence, and this one’s the real kicker-connection to others.
Engaging in these new experiences didn’t mean doing these things alone. Up to 82% of single folks relied on friends and family to join them. They just didn’t need a romantic partner to have fun!
Mindset is the key. Those with higher self-esteem, felt happier about being single. The belief that singlehood offers opportunities for growth and self-expansion made the difference. Comparing those who viewed being single positively with those who viewed it less positively found that if a person didn’t believe being single was a lot of fun, then even engaging in new experiences did nothing to change their beliefs or their satisfaction with life. Although it did have a small effect on their mood.
For those who find themselves single not by choice, these are the suggested recommendations: try something new; make it a point to get to know yourself better; find new communities; and travel solo. The bottom line is to think differently about being single. Stop thinking of singlehood as something that you have to escape. Mindset is the key. It’s an opportunity with new freedoms.

So…there you have it! And for those of you who are single, there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a nice romance book. It doesn’t have to be an escape to something you don’t currently have, because let’s face it, married life has its challenges, too. Books rarely represent reality…it’s all about the fantasy of romance! Speaking of romance books, I have a new romance thriller available for pre-order now!! Check out Blind Faith: a book about a woman with face blindness who goes on the run with a sexy detective after witnessing a mob hit.