15 Times Tumblr Understood Being Single During the Holidays
Being single during the holidays can be a complete drag. You don't have a permanent date who you can bring to family functions (and they can save you when your aunt asks you super awkward questions). Of course, being single at Christmas means warding off questions from nosy relatives to want to know why you don't have a boyfriend on your arm and when they can expect you to start a family. It doesn't matter if you just broke up with your long-term boyfriend or have been single for what feels like forever. Being partner-free during the Christmas season is never really fun. Tumblr totally understands the pain of dealing with your single status during the holidays, as evidenced by these hilariously true memes and posts. Though you might be single, at least you (hopefully) won't have to share your eggnog with anyone else. Here are 15 times that Tumblr totally got what it was like to be single during the holidays.
Christmas Wishes
Maybe your Christmas wish is to finally have a significant other, but if there's anything you've come to terms with, it's that's not going to happen… at least not anytime soon. You've accepted this is another holiday season you'll spend without a special someone, even though your mom likes to insist that she's your special person. You're pretty sure if you did ask Santa Claus for a boyfriend or girlfriend that he'd ask you to choose something a bit more realistic, proving how bad your dating game has been lately. Even if a significant other isn't something realistic to put on your wish list, you can still fill it up with equally awesome things. A new pair of heels or a fancy phone aren't going to go anywhere, like a boyfriend can when things get rough. And just think about all the money you're saving since you don't have to buy a gift for a partner. Why not treat yourself this holiday season? If you don't have a significant other to buy for, then you might as well get something out of it.
14 Single Bells
Christmas jingles take on a new meaning when you're single. Suddenly jingle bells goes from “jingle bells, jingle bells, oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh” to “single bells, single bells, single all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride nothing because I'm single, and no one wants to love me.” Outdoor winter activities seem a lot less fun when you have to do them without a partner, even if your parents are excited that it means you can spend more time with them. In all seriousness, being single shouldn't stop you from enjoying all that the Holiday season has to offer. Just because no one is there to be your one and only doesn't mean no one does and will want to love you. And it definitely doesn't mean that it's not fun to do anything anymore. Riding a sleigh with bells and reindeer would be fun no matter who you're with or what time of the season it is.
13 Missing the Mistletoe
Everyone always makes a big deal about being caught under the mistletoe and having to kiss someone because of it. In some cases, there might be a fellow single person nearby that you can lock lips with, but sometimes you might have to blow a kiss to your mom across the room. Whether it's on Christmas day, New Year's Eve, or any other day of the year, being caught under the mistletoe without someone to kiss is never very fun. Mistletoe is a stupid idea created by taken people so they have an excuse for more PDA. If you find yourself without someone to kiss under the mistletoe, then grab the nearest dog or cat and give them a smooch. Or tell the world how silly you think this tradition is and that you refuse to take part in it, whether you're single or not (even though you're totally into it when you actually have a sig other).
12 Drink Please
Anyone who goes home for the holiday understands how difficult it is to field off questions from family members about their dating life. Regardless if you're in a relationship or not, you're probably still bombarded with questions about when you're planning on settling down and giving your parents grandbabies. Why aren't you dating anyone new? Aren't you concerned about when you're going to start a family? What about that nice boy you were dating a couple years ago? And the questions never stop. To survive the interrogation, you totally know you need a few drinks to make things go smoothly. Order yourself a cosmo (or a couple shooters if you're desperate), so that you can answer your mom's questions without a panic attack. At the end of the day, your love life is nobody's business but yours, so if you really don't want to answer someone's question then don't. You shouldn't need a drink to get through casual conversations… although a glass of eggnog never hurt anyone.
11 Pros And Cons
As much as you wish you had someone to bring to Christmas parties and ring in the New Year with, you have to admit there are some obvious pros to being single during the holidays or at any other time during the year. Like these meme says, you will not have to worry about being cheated on, lied to, or forgotten about at a family function. The only person you have to worry about is yourself. It can be a lot less stressful to be single during hectic festive times. You do not have to worry about your sig other getting along with family members or friends, or keeping them entertained during boring family functions. You can go to parties and hang out with friends on your own terms, without the need to check in with someone else. While singledom might have its drawbacks, the freedom it gives you is priceless.
10 Overqualified
You really don't understand why you're not taken right now. Maybe you just got out of a bad relationship or are waiting for the perfect someone, but, either way, you're still not sure why someone hasn't come and put a ring on it. And your family definitely feels the same way. They've probably been saying the same thing to you this entire holiday season. having to explain to people that you're just as confused as to why no one has realized your amazingness definitely gets old after a while. Thanks to your awesome personality, good looks, and killer sense of humor, you truly are overqualified to be someone's significant other, so you like to think that's the reason you're still single. You wouldn't accept a job that you're overqualified for, so you definitely shouldn't date someone that you're too good for. Don't lower your standards just to have someone on your arm come Christmas time.
9 Craiglist And Cheer-Up
There's a lot you can do to cheer yourself up if your single status is bumming you out. This e-card suggests browsing the Craigslist personals to see all the people who are more desperate than you. While looking at people who you think have it worse than you doesn't seem like the nicest way to lift your spirits, we can think of a dozen other ways to put yourself in a better mood (that don't involve making fun of someone at their expense). Try some retail therapy to treat yourself or getting the girls together to have a girls-only night full of mixed drinks and cheesy chick flicks. If you're feeling really blue, talk to a close friend or vent your sorrows in a pint of ice cream. While it's okay to be a little sad about your lack of a relationship status, make sure it doesn't interfere with your holiday celebrations, because life carries on whether you have a sig other or not.
8 Ex-Mas Party
When people abbreviate Christmas as X-mas, you're single and you know what that really means: it's code for a party where you're totally going to run into all of your exes. While X-mas may not be an official code for anything, you beg to differ. Either the universe is out to get you or someone hates you so much that they want to watch you awkwardly converse with your boyfriend from three years ago (plus his new fiancée). It seems that any holiday party you go to, you're bound to an ex or two. Especially if you're traveling back to your hometown for the holidays, an ex is sure to pop up at one point. Maybe they're still mutual friends with your friends or your mom invited them over because she thinks you two are perfect for one another. No matter the reason you ran into them, it doesn't make your conversation anymore awkward. It will definitely put you in a mood for another beer.
7 Dying Alone
New Girl always gets you, so it's no wonder that Tumblr and New Girl understands you this well, especially when it comes to being single during the holidays. As Zooey Deschanel's character so unapologetically said, “I'm going to die alone, and Merry Christmas.” At least she's dealing with her fate like a real champion (and still putting on a festive front). It's better to face the facts than live in denial for the rest of your life. Even though you totally know you won't be single forever, sometimes you can't help but feel like there's no one out there for you. You've accepted your single status during the Holidays and all other times of the year, and you wish everyone else would too. At least it makes it easier to deal with your singleness until the man or woman of your dreams (finally) comes and sweeps you off of your feet.
6 Single Days Of Christmas
Here's another example of how Tumblr has ruined Christmas carols for all of those people without a lover on their arm. As the classic song “12 Days of Christmas” goes, your true love is supposed to give you a new gift during the 12 days before Christmas (the song suggests a partridge in a pear tree, although you'd much prefer something with diamonds). But, for those who haven't found their one true love, it doesn't look like they're going to be getting anything. It's true that you might be missing out on some killer gifts if you're sans a partner this Holiday season, but that doesn't mean you're going to be present-less. Even if no one else is set to gift you with something awesome, then go out and treat yourself. You have every right to gift yourself something during the holidays, especially if your relationship is bumming you out. Retail therapy is cheaper than regular therapy, so you're definitely being a responsible adult in that way.
5 Future Boyfriend
Now that is the spirit. If anyone asks why or if you are still single, then tell them that you are actually in a long distance relationship… and the only catch is your significant other lives in the future and may or may not be aware of your existence. Whether you're crushing on a celebrity, a friend or acquaintance, or haven't met the boy of your dreams, you're confident they're out there and you're happy with your “long distance relationship” until the day they walk into your life. It would make life a hell of a lot easier if we knew when and where we'd meet our future boyfriend or girlfriend. At least you'd be able to give a reliable answer to questions about your single status. There's totally someone (actually, probably a lot of someones) out there who could make you happy, and you're bound to stumble across them one day
4 Busy Bee
Not having a significant other during the holidays tends to free up your schedule… by a lot. You do not have to attend any of their family or work functions or go to any holiday events thrown by their friends (which means way less awkward conversations for you). Even more, you do not have to worry about fitting them into your schedules and making sure you can both attend all the functions you have been invited to. You can spend your time doing more productive things. If you want, you can spend more time with your friends and family, since you probably don't get nearly as much free time as you do during the Christmas season. Or, if you're not so much a people person, grab a bowl of popcorn and have a Netflix marathon. One of the best benefits of dating yourself is you can do literally whatever you want.
3 Gave You My Heart
Well, this is reason enough to be single. Heartbreak is one of the worst feelings in the world, so it's a good reason to stay away from the dating game. Maybe you're single because you had a bad breakup or are scared of getting your heart hurt again… and we totally understand your feelings. When you're heartbroken, it literally feels like you're walking around without a heart. And, like this Tumblr post points out, that would make you dead (or at least feel dead, metaphorically feeling). They say that love is a risk for a reason, so you're going to have to take a bit of a gamble anytime you become vulnerable in front of another person. There's no reason to rush opening your heart to someone, so don't feel like you need to give your heart away like this Christmas song describes. Hold onto it a bit longer until you feel confident you're not giving it to someone who's just going to run away with it. Nno one wants to hear you sing sad Christmas songs about heartbreak.
2 Dangerous Roads
Sometimes you just really don't want to socialize during the holidays. This happens to everyone, whether or not they have a boyfriend to take as a date to the event. There are times you don't feel like making small talk with people you don't particularly like or having to field awkward questions about your personal life from nosy relatives. As this e-card says, sometimes you wish the roads were too dangerous to drive on just so you had an excuse to stay home. If you're worried about showing up somewhere simply because you're single, then that's not a very good excuse. You should never let a lack of a date stop you from going out and having a good time. But, if you don't want to go out simply because you'd rather have a chill session with Netflix, then all the power to you. Netflix beats making awkward small talk on any occasion.
1 Ho-Ho-Homicide
After answering question after question about why you are single and if there are any potential romantic interests in your life, sometimes all you want to do is yell at people and run away. So we don't blame you if you start sharpening your candy cane to look like this in the event you actually need to use it. But, please, don't actually use it. Not only because that could seriously hurt someone, but because that would get you in trouble and possibly sent to prison, and it's a lot harder to find a forever partner when you're behind bars. Sharpen your candy cane, clench your fists, and roll your eyes, just don't actually stab someone with this makeshift prison shank. If anything, just yell at the person you're talking to that it's none of their business who you are or aren't dating. At the end of the day, it's nobody's business but yours whether you're taken, so don't be afraid to set someone straight (in a nice way, of course) if they're being a bit too pushy. Happy holidays!