We've gotten through Halloween unscathed (for some). After Halloween come the other two big ones in the Holiday Triumvirate: Thanksgiving and Christmas. I, as a single person, have a love-hate relationship with the holiday seasons, and this is for all the single people out there drowning their temporary relationship blues in pumpkin pie and Eggnog.

First and foremost, being single during the holidays means that SO much pressure is taken off of you. I'm a fantastic gift giver, if I do say so myself. I'm the kind of individual that really pays attention to what my (at this point non-existant) significant other has told me and I really go the whole nine yards to get them "that gift." It could be as sentimental as something to do with our first movie that we watched as a couple, to as humorous as finding an inside joke on a t-shirt. Now, as a single person over the holidays, I can pay attention to the one partner that won't be ashamed of you after having a three hour cry-fest while watching "Love, Actually" for the forty-fourth time in a row: me. I can take care of myself during the holidays, which is always good. You know how I'm gonna spend my day after Thanksgiving? Nah, I'm not gonna shop on Black Friday. I'm gonna turn on a re-run of "Cutthroat Kitchen" and stay in bed all day and it's gonna be GLORIOUS!

Secondly, the holiday seasons is a meat eater's paradise, which is also wonderful. I've impressed parents during the holidays and tried to be on my best behavior, but now, as a single person during the holidays, all I can say is that I have no shame in taking a giant spoon into an entire bowl of mashed potatoes or eating an entire tin of Christmas cookies. Shame? What is that? Nah. I don't have to worry about the pressure of having to try random foods that my S.O's family would cook and feign excitement while eating turkey with the consistency of a shoe.

Thirdly, I can do all the things during the holidays that my S.O wouldn't want to do. I wanna do all those family things that make me love the holidays. Literally, getting lost riding shotgun in a car looking at random houses lights is one of the greatest and most liberating parts of the Christmas season. I can really get invested in what the true meaning of the holidays are: family. I love hanging out with Mama Tait and watching as many Christmas specials as I can comprehend (or until I pass out, take your pick). I enjoy that groggy pre-coffee feeling right before the Macy's Parade happens every Thanksgiving. It's the little things. Yeah, don't judge me, movie theatre audience as I get a large bucket of popcorn and wear an ugly Christmas sweater while watching the new holiday movie and probably cry halfway through; I'm a fantastic holiday movie date and my ugly Christmas sweater appreciates the outing!

So, single folk during these next two months, never fear. Take pride in your cocoa drinking, "The Holiday" watching, carol belting, turkey eating and copious amounts of holiday cheer! But, don't forget the people who really matter: it's the company you're with this holiday season. They're gonna be the ones that you'll remember in the Christmas card. Trust me.