You don’t need a boyfriend, because you’re strong on your own. You’re successful on your own. You’re happy on your own.

You don’t need a boy to make you feel like you have your life together, because you have a job that you’re proud of and a life that you’re proud of. You might not make as much money as you want to make yet, but you’re spending your weekdays doing something productive. You don’t sit on your ass all day. You get shit done. You’re actively trying to make something of yourself.

You don’t need a boy to spend your weekends with, because you have friends that are happy to come over anytime you call. Friends that will go out and get drunk with you one night and will sit on your couch with their laptop while you sit on yours the next night. Friends that would drop everything to help you if you ever asked.

You don’t need a boy to make you feel beautiful, because you know you look damn good every time you step in front of your mirror or pose for a photo. You know that you can pull off every outfit in your closet and then all of your selfies are flawless. You know you’re hot stuff, even if you have days of insecurity.

You don’t need a boy to text when you’re bored, because you have parents and siblings and cousins who would love to hear how you’ve been doing. Who would love to listen to your ramblings about life. Who would love it if you took it a step further and stopped by to see them, because they enjoy having you around.

You don’t need a boy to remind you that you’re loved. You know that every time your mother calls to check up on you. Every time your best friend compliments your outfit. Every time your pet snuggles beside to you in bed.

You don’t need a boyfriend, because you’re badass on your own.

You don’t need a boyfriend, because you’re killing it on your own.

You don’t need a boyfriend, because you haven’t met the right person yet and it’s better to stay single than to force yourself into a relationship that doesn’t fit you in all the right ways. It’s better to wait for the real deal than to pretend that you could make it work with someone toxic.

You don’t need a boyfriend, because there’s nothing wrong with living the single life in your teens, twenties, and beyond. There’s nothing wrong with being an independent woman without a ring on her finger.

If you find a boy who deserves your love, a boy who can give you everything you’ve been hoping for, then you should grab ahold of him and never let him go.

But until then, you don’t need a boyfriend to be happy. You can find happiness without any outside help. You can find happiness all on your own.

Holly Riordan is the author of
Severe(d), A Creepy Poetry Collection.
Pre-order your copy here.