The Single Virus

Along with the common cold and the stomach flu, another illness is making its rounds at this time of year. Yes, I am referring to the dreaded Single Virus. Symptoms may include but are not limited to-

*The illusion that there are couples everywhere or that you are the only single person in your group of friends. Whenever you leave the house you see people your age or younger holding hands with a boy or girl and laughing. These are the only people you notice. The disease can spread to your eyes and block out anybody who is perfectly happy shopping by themselves. 

*Jealousy. Arguably the worst side effect of The Single Virus, jealousy can lead to more serious symptoms such as desperation, hateful words, and impulsive actions. 

*Feelings of self-doubt or worthlessness. Unfortunately, especially during the holidays, people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do. They convince themselves that the lack of something (or someone) means they are less of a person or don't hold as much value. This is a flat out lie, but The Single Virus eats away at the part of the brain that reminds people that they are children of God and therefore priceless. 

*Impatience. This is the nagging voice in the back of your mind (when am -I- going to meet someone?) that just won't give up. It wants things and it wants them immediately. Impatience is sick of waiting, and it won't take no for an answer. 

So, is there any sort of cure for The Single Virus, or are all relationship-less individuals doomed to a lifetime of misery? 

The solution is realization. And not just one realization, but a whole string of them. 

Realization that you are not the only single person in the world. To realize this, you must first remove your self-pity goggles and take a decent look at your life and those around you. When you compare the amount of single people and the people who are in a relationship or are engaged, it actually starts to balance a little bit. If you still aren't convinced, take a walk through Wal-Mart and instead of inwardly groaning at the PDA, notice all the other people suffering from TSV (The Single Virus) and let yourself accept that you are not the only person who is single, and that's okay. 

Next, the realization that it's okay that people around you are happy. It's okay that they have a significant other at this point in their lives. You need to realize that being happy for someone else's happiness is just as great as being happy yourself. Once you get into a slump of having grudges against happily unsingle friends, it's easy to stay that way and refuse to be happy for them. This is wrong. If you were happy, you would want your friends to also be happy. Don't bring your friends down simply because you're feeling sorry for yourself. 

Last, a realization that you aren't worth anything less because you don't have someone to give a Valentine to in February. Read in your Bible. Remember that you *are* loved, and you are loved deeply and powerfully. Use this time to work on your relationship with God, family, friends, random people on the street. Work on becoming the person you want to be instead of focusing on the person you want to be with. Then, and only then, can you combat TSV and live happily ever after.