Yup. You read that correctly. I am a 20 year-old female that is single and does not want to date. You may be thinking, "Why wouldn't you want to be in a relationship? That's what everyone wants." Yes, I do want a relationship in the future, but not right now. Right now I'm working on me.

I believe that we live in a society where young adults feel the pressure to have to be interested in someone. There's a societal push for young people to be in relationships, but why? We have our whole lives to settle down and find "the one." There's no rush.

Despite what you may think from my first two paragraphs, I don't think being in a serious relationship during your 20's is a bad thing. Some of the best people I know are currently in long-term relationships, and they're incredibly happy. But, my point here is that it is okay to be single in your 20's.

Why do I say this? Well, because this is the time you can be selfish. You have very little responsibilities. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want because you're gaining your own freedom for the first time in your life. Enjoy it because it's not going to last long. Soon you'll have a full time job, a spouse, and a family. Therefore, now is the time to live. It's the time to experience things you've never done before. Go on that trip to Europe. Go skydiving. Go to your dream college. Get that tattoo. Go out with your friends. Be whoever you want to be without feeling as if you're being held back.

Another reason that being single in your 20's is okay is because this is the time where you're figuring out who you want to be. You're learning how to love yourself. You're trying to decide what career path you want to pursue. You're venturing into unknown territory, and sometimes it is better to do that alone. Being single means that there is not as much pressure to be defined by another person. The only person that could potentially hold you back is yourself. Step out of your comfort zone and chase your dreams.

I'm not saying there aren't times that I wish I had a significant other, because sometimes I do. It's nice to have someone there for you no matter what. But what I've learned in my life is that people aren't always going to be there for you. You have to learn to be there for yourself. You have to learn to pick yourself up off the floor in the middle of the night when you're upset and crying because no one else is going to stick by you forever except you.

Dating someone does not mean you cannot do these things too, and being single does not mean that you will do these things. All I want you to know is that there is no pressure to be in love. Don't worry because love will find it's way to you. Just work on loving yourself because that's what really matters.