Unfortunately, in our society, the completeness of a woman is judged by whether she has rung her wedding bells and vowed to spend her life with her man. An unmarried woman is often looked upon with sympathy or even with a frown as if she denied herself or did not by fate get the biggest joy of life. On the other hand, a man often fares better with the bachelor status making him sound full of life and career-oriented.

To dispel this growing disparity in the mindset, we should understand that we are all individuals and masters of our own lives. One should trust oneself and one’s instincts and never succumb to social pressures. There is no denying that married life has its own virtues and a surprisingly fun side to it, but that does not mean that being single is a social stigma. In fact, the next time someone hurls a taunt or sympathy at you for being a single woman, get even and tell them how good life feels on being on your own.

You are known for who you are: Consider yourself lucky when you get invitations for who you are instead of as the wife of so-and-so. You have your own identity and place in people’s mind.

Discover yourself: Following the traditional marriage path makes one surrender one’s identity and become what life leads them to be. When you are single, you can discover your potential, your ambitions, feel confident and empowered and see if you can make some difference.

No one will buy you chocolates when you love ice creams: There’s no need to unwillingly accept presents or show false appreciation for items you will probably just tuck away somewhere or hand over to someone else.

Your spare time is yours — no sharing: If you get a day off, you are free to doze off, read a book or watch a movie of your choice. There is no one around to judge you or take a piece of your priceless time.

Spend your money the way you want: Spend what you earn on whatever you want, without having anyone around to raise an eyebrow. Whether it is buying a lollypop or the latest designer dresses, the choice is yours.

No unwanted smiling or dressing: After a long day at work, you are free to wear anything you find within arm’s length and get into the most mundane mood. Who would know?

No in-laws spurring trouble: The biggest upset in a marriage, in many cases, is the unavoidable ‘in-laws effect’; feel blessed to not have this word in your life’s dictionary.

Support your parents: Many ageing parents with no sons around find themselves lonely and uncared for after their daughters’ marriage. This is the time when you should come forward and give them the support and time they prize.

Lead your life the way you want: Many women give up their dreams, careers and even relationships for a man just to be labelled as married. Being single gives you the freedom to shape your life the way you want. You do not have to be accountable to anyone for your actions or choices or think about a zillion things before making a decision. It’s your life, you plan it your way.

Explore while you can: With more time, you can look for the ideal partner for yourself instead of rushing and reaching conclusions. Till then, be alone rather than wish you were!