When I was growing up, single to me was mostly a woman, unmarried, boring, temperamental and sexless. Rumours were that she lost out because she was busy fending for her family and siblings or that she was an orphan with nobody to get her married off. Single men were the ones wicked enough to not settle down or men burdened with family responsibilities.

When I walked out of my marriage, single for me was loss of coupledom, being one half, not invited for functions, huge reality check on independence and the conundrum of which box to tick in forms and applications - single or married. Being separated or in the process of divorce or feeling single for past many years did not matter, I still had to tick the 'married' box.

Talking about relationships status, there's a whole gamut of relatedness happening between the narrowness of being single and married. Being on my own for more than a decade, my perspective on singledom has expanded. These days it encompasses multiple levels of relationships - one can be separated and co-parenting, committed and not married, committed in a long term relationship but living apart, dating for fun, living with someone but open to dating others or open to dating but prioritising self care and healing.

To me the best part of single is, I get to choose the relationship I want to be in with no duty or obligation there and I remain unfettered by law. I get to romance my man solely because I enjoy doing it.
What's your take ?