I'm Glad I'm Single At This Age

A man? In my house? Ew.

Welcome to Cheaper Than Therapy, a newsletter by Shani Silver.

Last night, as I sleeplessly rotated in my bed like a gas station hotdog, trying to find a comfortable position, trying not to sweat, trying not to ruminate about the state of the world—a thought occurred to me that brought me a great sense of peace, and afterward I slept until dawn: Thank fuck a man’s not here.

For years I’ve placed my freedom as a single woman on a pedestal, it’s the best part of being single in my opinion. But holy hell, these days I’m exploring a deeper need for freedom than I’ve ever known, because things are happening to me that I need some space for. If you’re in your late 30s, your 40s, or your 50s, you’ve probably navigated at least a few significant changes that genuinely impact how you feel, and how you live from day-to-day. There are changes to your mind and body that you literally can’t ignore. If you’re single, you’ve been able to go through it without also having to suffer the sound of a man chewing.