Ever since we were little girls, the idea of a dream wedding has always been built up around us.

Everyone has one, everyone knows what season they want to get married in, what their dress looks like, what flowers they want, and so on.

But I've never had that. I've never had a time in my life where I knew what kind of wedding I wanted or what kind of dress I'm going to walk down the aisle in or what kind of flowers I want. I've never been the kind of person to dream of a prince charming sweeping me off my feet and taking me away to my happily ever after.

Growing up, my idea of a "perfect life" was being a working, single mom with one child that I'll adopt, and living in a decent, upper-middle-class apartment. I have never thought of myself with a significant other. I've never thought of myself as someone that would get married, much less someone that would dream of a wedding.

And the fact is: that's okay. It's perfectly acceptable for a woman to want to focus on her career.

It's perfectly acceptable for a woman, or person for that matter, to not want to get married. It is perfectly acceptable, in this day and age, for me to be a single woman and not want or dream of a wedding.

No, there's nothing wrong with that.

No, it doesn't mean I won't ever get married (don't stress, mom). No, it doesn't mean I'll be a bad parent because I want to do it on my own. No, it doesn't mean I'm "crazy."

Yes, it is terrible for people to look down on others because they do not want the "norm."

Yes, it is rude to assume that I'll become an old cat lady. Yes, it is rude to assume that being a cat lady is a "bad thing." And yes, your opinion of my future does not matter to me.

Part of the good thing about this day and age is the fact that we have a chance to choose. We can choose a career, family, or both. And if someone chooses differently than you or the "norm," that's OK, too.