10 Stories That Give Us Reasons to Believe Being Single Can Be Better Than a Relationship

Society often makes it seem like being single is something to avoid. But in reality it can be the best decision you ever make. From disastrous dates to awkward moments with someone you have been dating for some time, dodging relationship drama is the biggest win of all.

1.

I met a guy who was born on the same day as me. That seemed like reason enough to accept his offer when he asked me out. He told me to dress up very nicely as we'd be attending an art gallery opening. I got dolled up, and he was in a T-shirt and jeans.

We got there, and it was in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. It was an art gallery, but barely. Some of his friends were there. He wouldn't introduce me to them and proceeded to chat with them and ignore me the entire evening.

After we left, he asked if he could take me out to dinner. I figured, whatever, at least I'd get a free meal out of this awful evening. We hit up a nice pizza joint and ordered a pizza. As I reached for a second slice, he just looked at me and said, "Wow! A second slice? Really? You're a house!". I ate the rest of the pizza.

etothepowerof3 / Reddit

2.

I was dating this guy for a few months, and everything seemed great—until he invited me over for dinner. I walked into his apartment and immediately noticed something odd. There were framed pictures of him… everywhere.

On the walls, on the shelves, even on the dining table. It was like a shrine to himself. As I sat down, he handed me a photo album—filled with more pictures of him. “I like to document my life,” he said proudly.

I nodded, unsure of what to say. But when he asked me to pick my favorite picture of him so he could "frame it for our future home," I knew it was time to leave.

3.

Some guy on Valentine’s Day came in and asked us to write on the cup “Will you marry me?”. It didn’t go well. She looked at the cup while he went down on one knee. She said nothing, put the cup back down, and just walked away shaking her head.

He, on the other hand, got pissed and started to rant about how she should have gotten over him sleeping with her sister already. We had to ask him to leave.

TheThrowawayFox / Reddit

4.

A pretty brunette walked in and sat down at the bar. I asked if she'd like to see a dinner menu. She explained that she was waiting for a date. The guy arrived with a large bag, which he sat down next to him.

It was immediately obvious this date was their first. Their conversation was lurching from forced to downright painful when he reached into the bag and pulled out an album containing...his Pokémon card collection.

He set the book on the bar and thumbed through each page, lovingly describing every card, attempting to educate his date. She feigned an emergency and called her friend to pick her up. He stayed and ate a plain hamburger at the bar. Both of these people were in their mid-30s.

Unknown author / Reddit

5.

I went out with a guy who wore the puffy shirt. I swear this was the same shirt. I looked beyond that, or at least tried to, and continued with the date. He later had a meltdown in his car because I said hello to a male friend we had seen while we were at a coffee shop and laughed when he told a story to me. He said he shouldn't have 'fallen for me' so quickly and wouldn't have if he'd known i'd 'cheat on him so fast'. He was crying really hard the whole way back to my house.

medusozoan / Reddit

6.

Meet a guy from OKCupid. He seems nice, but he never stops talking. After he had interrupted me for the 3rd or 4th time, I finally asked him, "Do you want to hear anything I have to say?" He apologizes profusely, says, "You're right, I'm so sorry!" and pulls out a pad of paper and a pen.

He then jots notes as I'm telling him about myself and whatnot. I finally ask him what he's doing, and he says, "Oh, I'm writing down things I want to tell you when it's my turn to talk again."

Breakfast27 / Reddit

7.

I often eat alone and people watch, and first dates are almost always painfully obvious. The worst one I ever saw was two people who were probably perfect for each other; they were both completely self-absorbed.

They both started stories and kept telling them at the same time. They weren’t even listening, just talking at each other. I was enraptured by the sheer insanity of it, I didn’t eat for like 45 minutes as they both just yapped away, barely stopping.

Zeruvi / Reddit

8.

I went on a first date with a guy who seemed normal—until the food arrived. As soon as the waiter placed our plates down, he reached across the table, grabbed my fork, and started cutting my steak.

“I just think women shouldn’t have to do things like this,” he said, smiling proudly.

I awkwardly took my fork back, but it didn’t stop there. He insisted on buttering my bread, stirring my drink, and even tried to wipe my mouth with a napkin.

When he reached for my plate to “pre-cut” the rest of my meal, I stood up. “I think I can manage,” I said, grabbing my purse. “And I think I’ll eat alone.”

9.

I was on a plane in business class, and the hottest guy sat next to me. We started talking, and it quickly became a great first date once we established we were both single. I got excited as we had a lot in common until he mentioned that he didn't think women should work and that he wanted kids immediately. I was 25 and had just started my own company, and kids were not on my mind.

I politely tried to watch a movie as my attraction to him came to a sudden halt, and he kept tapping my shoulder to ask questions. Annoyed, I tried to go to sleep, only to wake up to him putting his arm around my waist. I got up immediately and went to the back of the plane to ask the flight attendant if I could change seats, and she said the plane was all full.

****estmonkey / Reddit

10.

Met through a dating app, and she asked if I wanted to meet “some of her friends” at a nearby place. It seemed weird for a first date, but I agreed to meet there. As we walk in, I realize there’s some kind of organized function happening, and there are printed papers on each table that read, “Welcome Springfield Class of 1991”.

She says hi to a couple of people, then says, “And this is Steve!”. My name isn’t Steve, she forgot my name. It was bizarre. I ended up staying for 45 minutes and eating a quesadilla as Steve then told her I had an early morning. She texted me the next day, but I felt this one time that ghosting was ok.

FishHikeMountainBike / Reddit

Relationships can be fulfilling, but they’re not the only source of happiness. Avoiding unnecessary stress, awkward dates, and unwanted compromises makes single life a powerful choice. Embracing independence means living life on your own terms—and that’s something worth celebrating.