Status: Single and blessed

How old are you now? Why are you still unmarried? These are the questions I dreaded during class reunions, family get together or even a random meet up with old acquaintances. Though I came to understand these people for asking these not so comfortable questions, but sometimes I wish they could ask me other questions. I presumed there are so many interesting topics in the world, even the weather is still palatable to me.

Though I know that I would be possibly bombarded with the same questions but this doesn't stop me from attending reunions and gatherings. I have discovered that in order to survive or even thrived in situations like these, I have to lean on to my sense of humor and act nonchalant to my status because if they sense it didn't bother me, then why would they?

I was once a typical woman, I plan and dream to meet the man of my dreams, a person whom I love and who would love me for the rest of my life. But I guess life has different plans for me at the moment, and it is not in my cards yet. I hope, ( I am not that disillusioned as people would think) .

But as for now, or for many more years, or for as long I live, I am unmarried, and I'm ok with it. I knew it is not an ideal scenario but it is my reality . I have already came to terms with it. I don't want to discuss the advantages or the disadvantages of being single or married, because I knew you are already aware of it. But as a single and independent woman, I must say, I have taken fully advantage of the benefits of singlehood and shrug with envy(just kidding) the possible incentives of being blissfully married.

What I want to say is that we are still the same person. It would be unfair to measure our worth based on our marital status, or to make negative assumptions of our personality because of it. I wont mind to be called and old maid or a spinster as long as it is not uttered in a derogatory and condescending tone. We don't want special treatment, we just want to be treated normally without judgement nor pity. It doesn't mean that we are unmarried, we are incapable of handling family matters or family issues, so include us in your family conversation. We are also part of the family, of a tribe, of the community and of the society so take time to listen and hear our opinion. We need words of encouragement too, if you need good luck and best wishes when you get married; so are we. The road we are taking is less travelled, and the travelers are few but still we count, we matter, and we belong.