“There is no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.
They don’t get to enjoy their grandchildren except for an occasional phone call.”
53, Kansas
2.
“Myth: You’ll be lonely.
Fact: I had numerous unmarried relationships.
73, California
3.
“Myth: There must be something wrong with you if you don’t marry.
79 USA
4.
Regardless, I absolutely love my lifestyle and the choices that I have made.
I wish it were true, but it’s definitely not.”
44, Colorado
5.
Crime shows abound where people get married and end up killing each other for whatever reasons.
I wonder how many people I graduated high school with are still married to their first spouse?
Or second, or third, or fourth?
People leave these relationships traumatized, if at all.”
In fact, I may have dodged a bullet.I certainly dodged the trauma."
64, North Carolina
6.
“The myth of being single by choice is not always true it’s not always a choice.
You don’t get to decide to be loved by someone.
“The myth that weve been rejected isnt true, either.
Some of us have never been picked in the first place, always invisible.”
47, California
7.
“Another myth is that a person who has never been married has not had anyone ask them.
That is not true for me.
It was just the wrong person at the wrong time doing the asking.
79, USA
8.
“‘You’ll change your mind.’
I never wanted to have children, so why get married?
Two daughters married, and two didn’t.”
“My parents never met their grandchildren and didn’t see their daughters for decades.”
“Last year, I chose to drive from Ohio to Utah for a week-long family reunion.
I should feel sorry for her.
61, Ohio
10.
“I’ve never been happier.
I just never met my guy.
I wanted it all.
It just never happened.
I was more lonely in dissatisfying relationships, than I am now.”
“I’m more creative and happy being single.
If someone comes into my life, great!
But I’m not in any rush.
Now I’m stronger than ever and living my best life!”
54, USA
11.
), so consigned myself to double-check I didn’t get anyone pregnant.
67, USA
12.
But either way…I’d be happy.”
violetbaudelairegt
13.
“I’m 50 and have never been married, but I have two kids.
Yes, I would love to find a partner.
No, I don’t need to have a partner.
My kids are not ‘screwed up’ from being raised by a single mom.
I think it allowed them to see that they can be independent and happy.”
ssstege11573
14.
Traveling solo should be cheaper.”
grhngrg
15.
“I just turned 50 and NEVER imagined I’d be unmarried or without kids.
It’s what everyone did in their 20s where I came from.
I was engaged once, and I know it was mostly to meet that ‘expectation.’
I still want to share my life with someone, but I don’t need to.
katherinewins3
16.
“Not getting married and not having children is not a fate worse than death.
While I never got married, I did have some long-term relationships with men.
73, Illinois
17.
“I am and always was a happy, single person.
But I always that that I would marry and have kids.
I was a doer.
He was a thinker.
We were unofficially engaged.
I was the one who wanted it to be ‘unofficial.’
I wanted someone who wanted me because he couldn’t live without me.”
I’ve sailed on multiple lakes and the ocean.
I’ve been flown to islands for lunch in private planes.
And all along, I have met wonderful people, dated, and grown to love my life.
My reward is having lifelong friends in all of those places.”
“I’m 47, and I learned a while back that married life is not for me.
jmacxjr
And finally…
19.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.
That’s what drives me up the wall about most people pushing traditional marriage/kids on everyone.
There are many different ways to live your life, which can change as you age.
My wish is people would just have a live-and-let-live attitude about it all.
46, Illinois
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
