Success + Singleness

personal

GOD DOESN’T SHOW YOU GOLD + MAKE YOU SETTLE FOR SILVER.

Ever heard of the phrase “Single as a Pringle”? Well if we’re bring totally transparent, that couldn’t describe my relationship status better. And honestly, I’ve got mixed feelings about it.
 
I’m at this point in my life + my business right now where it doesn’t make sense for me to be in a relationship. Heck, I’m in a whole new state trying to make sense of a new job + environment—throw in a new relationship? Ya, my brain’s gonna take a hard pass on that one. But my heart isn’t as easily swayed...
 
Let me just be real with y’all for a minute. Sometimes being single sucks. (Can I get an AMEN?!) I’ve found it’s especially rough during the holidays, when it seems like everyone under the sun is doing the cutest little festive things with their person, while you’re left home alone watching rom coms and eating all the leftover Halloween candy. OR WORSE, you’re also at those cute little festive things but in a big group of couples as the seventh wheel (but I’m not speaking from experience or anything…).
 
Add to that the fact that many of us are entering that time in our lives when we’ll be going to wedding after wedding (or, in my case, being paid to photograph lovers), watching love story after beautiful love story unfold in front of our eyes, and that’s when, if we’re not careful, we can truly let loneliness hit.
 
When that little bit of loneliness starts threatening my joy, I’ll be honest—it’s hard not to give in. We’ve all been there—scrolling through social media or watching romance movies and feeling all the self-pity, wishing our Romeo would come and throw pebbles at our window + start our fairytale already. What’s taking him so long anyway?
 
But we don’t have to let loneliness win. That’s actually super important so, like the teacher I am, I’ll say it again: we don’t HAVE to let loneliness win. Y’all, we have all the power in the world to fight that battle against loneliness and come out victorious—all it takes is a shift in perspective.
 
So, when I feel that bitter ghost of loneliness creeping up on me, I take a really intentional look around and think about the beautiful people I’m blessed to have in my life already. I think about the even more beautiful love story that God is writing for me right now, whether it’s with a special person or with Him. Because news flash y’all: God doesn’t show you gold + make you settle for silver.
 
In the end, my hope is that this gave you a little encouragement as we venture out again to fight that battle against the tyrant of loneliness who seeks to be the thief of our joy. Don’t let him win—God has so much more planned for you. And trust me, it’ll be worth the wait.