I might be biased but…these days it seems like television, movies, and literature portray thirty-something single women as either 1. glamorous party girls constantly moving between conquests or 2. whiny homely chicks who are immensely dissatisfied with their lives and can’t understand why they aren’t married. (Because they are a drag to be around, that’s why.)
At My Happiest With My Niece, Anne Shelton Porterfield
Don’t get me wrong, there certainly are women out there who fit both these molds, but what about the rest of us? I know this is going to be a surprise to a lot of you, but there are some 30+ year old women out there who are looking for more, they are looking to be more. They are struggling to balance their dreams of being savvy career women with their dreams of being married and having kids – and fearfully facing the reality that they might not be able to have it all. And probably just like you, they are trying to have faith in the plans God has for them, “plans to give [them] a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
Candidly, being 32 and single has its advantages and its disadvantages. Here is a brief sampling of some things I love/hate about this stage of my life:
1. I LOVE being able to really get to know myself – my likes and dislikes, my dreams and fears. Last year, when I moved to Nashville I realized that I could recreate myself without really worrying how others might react. I could dream big, stretch myself, and take a stand for a different life without having to get others aligned.
2. I HATE of only being thrown into groups with other single women. Being somewhat new to town, people are always dying to introduce me to other single women they know. Why? Because they are single and they are women and so they think we should be friends. Call me crazy but I still like to hang out with a diverse crowd that includes guys, married couples, and families with young kids. I love to cookout, play at the park, and watch football. I don’t want to spend every Friday night with eight of my closest girl friends complaining about the lack of men in Nashville. I want to be invited to your kid’s birthday parties and game night. (I could go on and on, but I will spare you. You can thank me later.)
What about you? What do you love/hate about your stage of life?
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