So, people often look at me kind of funny because I dress my dog, Bridgette. And yes, I even do her hair! God has not blessed me with a child, so I feel the need to dress my dog as I would a little girl.  I just have this overwhelming need to nurture something. My friends got sick of me trying to always mother them so,  a couple of years ago, I adopted a dog. 

That is one thing that I  have found really tough about being single-the desire to have a child and knowing that it might not ever happen. It does help me with the need to nurture to have a dog.  Not that she replaces having a child, but I certainly enjoy taking care of her.   The truth is, that I really enjoy dressing her up and I feel so proud when people say how cute she looks. When I first got her, I used to try to match our outfits everyday. I KNOW…I am INSANE!  I don’t feel quite the need to make us match anymore…but she does still have more outfits than I do!

For me, God provided with a way for me to nurture even though I don’t have children. As silly as it may sound, Bridgette is a huge blessing in my life. She has changed things for me. I used to get really depressed coming home after a business trip to an empty apartment. Now, I can’t wait to come home and be greeted with doggy kisses!  

If you are single and lonely I encourage you to get a pet!

I was faced with a dilemma today.  Do I spend my grocery money on groceries or do I eat cereal for a week and buy the cute tweed skirt? Well, for me I guess it wasn’t all that much of a dilemma…I bought the skirt!   Which, brings me to my next positive point about being single. Who will know or care if I spend grocery money on a skirt or a fabulous pair of red boots?   Truth be known, I often spend money budgeted for other things on clothes, shoes and accessories. I just can’t seem to help myself. My closet is over flowing with shoes, purses and belts, yet I always seem to find yet another item that just has to go into my collection!

It is on a day like today that I am so glad that I only have myself to contend with!  And so as I sit here eating my Rice Chex, I think,  it IS a gift to be single!

Well, today starts my first blog adventure.  I decided to start a blog about the gift of being single…yes, you heard it right, the GIFT of being single. I was recently at a conference where a woman was speaking about how to deal with certain situations in life, such as; being single, being a victim of sexual abuse, being divorced, sexual morality, financial problems, etc.  I was floored-(ok maybe utterly appalled would be a better word) that she would categorize being single with subjects like sexual abuse.  Being single, in my opinion is not a problem to be dealt with in my life.  I am single by choice. I am happy with my life and really do feel that it is a gift from God. Now, I admit there have been many times in my life when I did not feel I had been given a gift.  At times, I felt that I had been cursed by God for some reason.  The older I get, the more I realize that there is no perfect situation or lifestyle. Being single has it’s issues as well as being married does.  I have made a choice in my life to try to see it as a gift rather than a curse.    I believe that God instituted marriage and it is definitely a good thing, but I feel God also gifted some with being single.

 If you are single, I implore you to start looking at your life this way.  We as single women are free to be a help to those in need in a way that those being married and having children don’t always have the time to do.  I am not always good at this. It is very easy for me to become self-centered and think only about my needs. Then, I try to step back and think how I can allow God to use my life to help others. It can be something as simple as house-sitting for someone or perhaps as big as making yourself available to someone hurting or lonely on a regular basis.   The choice is ours…will we choose to live life single as a gift or a curse?