SINGLE 101
101 REASONS TO
CELEBRATE BEING SINGLE
Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single
Flying Solo Publishing
Copyright © 2007-2010 by Celeste Friedman.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any manner whatsoever, electronic or mechanical without written permission.
Designed by Celeste Friedman.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication data is available upon request.
ISBN-10: 1451510519
EAN-13: 97814551510515
SINGLE 101
101 REASONS TO
CELEBRATE BEING SINGLE
by Celeste Friedman
Dedicated to hearts content with living outside of the mainstream,
who discover more about themselves than
they wouldn’t have otherwise.
CONTENTS
101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single page
Forward xi
101. Spontaneity 1
100. You Can Live Anywhere You Want 2
99. More Job Opportunities 3
98. You Don't Have to Worry if He Will or Won't Call 4
97. The Crossword Puzzle is All YOURS! 6
96. You Can Eat Garlic or Onions with No Need for Breath Mints 8
95. You Can Be Happy with Who You Are, 9
Not Who He Wants You to Be
94. You Can Have Sexual Gratification Any Time You Desire 11
93. You Can Have Male Friends without Defending Yourself 12
92. Free Drinks in Pubs and Clubs 14
91. You Can Flirt as Much as You Want 16
90. You Are at the Controls 18
89. You Can Hang Your Unmentionables Wherever You Choose 20
88. More Opportunities to Meet New People 21
87. Flexibility 23
86. You Don’t Have to Compromise 24
85. Guilt-Free Gorging 25
84. You Have More Time for Yourself 26
83. Serenity, Peace and Quiet 28
82. You Can Build Your Own Wealth 29
81. You Don’t Have to Miss Being You 31
80. You Can Lick the Spoon 32
79. No One Changes the Settings on Your Car Radio or iPod 34
78. You Can Primp for Hours 35
77. You Can Keep Your Maiden Name 36
76. You Can Decorate and Place the Furniture Wherever You Want 39
75. Freedom to Pursue Your Passion 41
74. No Drama 42
73. You Can Have as Many Sleeping Partners as You Like 43
vii
72. Lucy, There’s No S’Plainin’ to Do 44
71. There is More to Life After the Loss of a Spouse 45
70. No In-Laws! 46
69. You Don’t Have to Share ANYTHING with ANYONE 49
68. Vibrators Don't Talk Back 50
67. You Can Choose to Flush – or Not 51
66. You Don’t Have to Make Excuses for Your Behavior 52
65. You Can Be Messy and Leave It That Way 53
64. You Can Focus on Your Own Schedule 54
63. You Are Not Desperate to Find a Mate 55
62. The Shower is All Yours 56
61. Undisturbed Sleep 57
60. You Can Go to Bed Whenever You Like 58
59. You Can Come and Go as You Please 60
58. You Can Surf the Internet with Privacy 61
57. You Don’t Have to Be in a Relationship to Feel Complete 62
56. You Can Have a Party Anytime 63
55. You Can Work Out or Diet Because You Want To 64
54. You Can Keep Your Toys 65
53. You Never Have to Hide Items in Your Shopping Cart 66
52. No Curfew 67
51. You’ll Never Have to Trade in Miniskirts for Minivans 68
50. If There’s Dribble on Your Pillow, You Know Where it Came From 69
49. So What If It‘s You‘re Period! 71
48. You Can Be a Total Chick Magnet 72
47. What You’re Wearing is Up to You 73
46. There’s Plenty of Space in the Closet 74
45. You Don’t Have to Deal with Someone Else’s Mood Swings 75
44. You Don’t Fret Over Bathroom Odors 76
43. You Can Sleep In or Take Naps Whenever You Like 77
42. You Can Take a Vacation Anytime and Anywhere 79
41. You Stay Healthier 80
40. No One Has to Witness Your Challenges If You’re Disabled 81
39. There Are No Vultures Hovering Over Your Food 83
38. You Can Come Home at Whatever Time You Like 84
37. You Can Have the Couch All to Yourself 85
36. You Can Take More Risks and Try New Things 86
35. You Can Have as Many Pets as You Want 87
viii
34. You Can Eat in Bed 88
33. There Are No Shoes to Trip Over 89
32. You Can Focus More on School or Your Career 90
31. You Don't Have to Listen to Him Hyperventilating Over Supermodels 91
30. You Rule! 92
29. You Can Talk to Yourself 94
28. You Know Where the Soap Has Been 95
27. You Don't Have to Fake an Orgasm 96
26. No One Knows You Have Raggedy P.J.’s 97
25. There’s No Time Limit in the Bathroom 98
24. You Don’t Have to Be Afraid to Go It Alone 99
23. You Can Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half 100
22. No More Lonely Nights 101
21. You Can Talk on the Phone as Long as You Like 102
20. No Jealousy or Suspicion 103
19. Shaving is Optional 105
18. You Can Hang Out at Home in Your Birthday Suit 106
17. You Are the Keeper of the Remote 107
16. The Smelly Socks are Yours 108
15. Kitchen Domination 109
14. Farting is Less Embarrassing 110
13. The Mattress is All Yours 111
12. No Toilet Lid Issues 112
11. You Can Embrace the Unknown 113
10. You Don’t Have to Worry about Morning Breath 117
9. No Extra Work When You Come Home from Work 118
8. Your Middle Name Isn’t ‘Maid Service’ 119
7. No More Broken Hearts 120
6. No More Physical Abuse 121
5. You Don’t Have to Tolerate Someone Else’s Annoying Habits 122
4. Self Respect and Integrity 123
3. You Manage Your Own Finances 124
2. Empowerment 125
1. Loneliness is Much Greater with Someone than Without 126
Bonus Reason 128
Single 101 Quiz 129
Author Biography 134
ix
Forward . . .
After two marriages and a few live-in boyfriends, I developed a love-hate relationship with being single. I have passed on several career opportunities, been forced to sell my dream home that I built with my late father and given up much of what I’ve wished for, all due to my loyalty toward a spouse or lover.
I was a typical girl who dreamed of true love, my wedding day and a happy family. My first marriage evolved into a partnership which sadly grew apart due to opposing career goals. Religious differences and financial status tore my second marriage to shreds, as I was from a lower-class factory town with Gentile blood flowing in my veins.
By trade, I’m a singer-songwriter and composer. Realizing that I was sacrificing my career and catering exclusively to the demands of the men in my life, I had no choice but to throw in the towel. I walked away every time, starting all over again and again.
Once I gave myself the chance to focus on my own needs and my career, I became far more successful living alone. While staying single, I have been nominated for a Grammy Award; scored for a Pulitzer Prize-nominated play; won several awards in music and education; received award nominations for contributions in television; and given wonderful opportunities to write and perform for children.
xi
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s complicated to live with me. My passion for writing and composing consumes my days, nights or
both. I don’t function well in a messy environment and prefer to have the bed all to myself. Through the years I have been dealt a few bad cards, from three miscarriages to being struck with rheumatoid arthritis in the prime of my life, to site just two examples.
There are times when I regret not being able to have children and wonder what life would be like now if I had a family.
Today, more men and women are planning and developing a career ahead of marriage. The general consensus for men seems to be the desire to build wealth and status first, where women want the freedom to establish themselves as individuals, gaining self respect and self worth. Statistics show that more people are choosing the single life after divorce or failed relationships.
In Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single, my mission is to entertain, inspire and support both men and women who relish their independence. Single 101 upholds an individual’s dignity; gives allegiance to those who choose to live single and encouragement to others considering the possibilities; and opens our eyes to the truth that not all people who are single have been abandoned, are lonely or desperate.
Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single is a countdown to Number One. Living alone doesn’t have to be a permanent situation. Many find it invaluable to experience total freedom for as long as they like. Remember Reason #30- You Rule!
xii
Eventually, I gave in to the theory that it is far better to be alone than to wish you were. In my pursuit of happiness, I am content flying solo. My story is reflected in Reason Number One.
One final note:
Some people may pop open the champagne and literally celebrate, while others may find that the path they have paved for themselves as a single person is not what they had imagined.
If you are completely alone in life, aging with no children or family close by, I pray that you have dear friends and compassionate neighbors. It is possible to reach a point where living all alone forces you to find a new living arrangement, should you lack the resources to survive or have a threatening health issue. Freedom is not free.