How To Be Single: When you choose solo time to figure out who you really are...

Sometimes there are nights when you stare into the darkness, your thoughts won't stop even at 1 a.m., and you wonder how to fall asleep. So I intuitively reached for my last resort in bed, which was the idea of watching a movie on my phone that I've seen a hundred times and that unknowingly became my movie mantra in my younger years, when I was thinking about myself and dating a lot.

 

This time, I thought about it quite a bit and decided to break it down a little and reminisce about how it really benefits all of us.

Let me set the scene for you. New York City. Glittering lights, endless brunches, bottomless glasses of mimosa. Somewhere between swiping right, late-night texts about existential crises, and watching another friend get engaged with a ring the size of a small asteroid, a quiet voice asks, "Wait... who am I without all of this?" That, my dear ladies, is where we find ourselves in a romantic comedy that tried to tell us something deeper: How To Be Single.

 

I know what you're thinking. "Wasn't that movie released a thousand breakups ago?" Yes. And it's still relevant, if not more so. So grab your sweatpants and maybe that self-help book you never finished.

 

Let's embark on a humorous but honest journey through How to Be Single—the movie, the idea, and perhaps the slightly belated era of solo living...

 

 

A plot with a touch of truth and wine

 

The film How to Be Single follows Alice (Dakota Johnson), who decides to take a "break" from her long-term boyfriend to "find herself." (Spoiler: she mainly finds a hangover and Robyn's song "Dancing On My Own" on repeat).

Along the way, she meets Robin (Rebel Wilson), the patron saint of girls' nights out; Lucy (Alison Brie), a mathematician from a marriage app, and Meg (Leslie Mann), an independent gynecologist who discovers that she may after all want a baby bottle that doesn't belong to her patients.

At first glance, it's a cute movie with nice actors and funny lines. But let's explore the deeper meaning of this story, shall we?

 

 

Four women, four journeys — one question: Who am I without someone else?

 

Alice: Existential explorer

Alice isn't running away from love — she's running towards herself. Sounds dramatic? Sure. But haven't we all stayed in something safe for too long, out of fear of being "alone"? Her solo journey is chaotic, embarrassing, and full of terrible encounters — a bit like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions.

But she learns that loneliness isn't a punishment — it's a practice. A practice that teaches you what your favorite pizza is, what your ideal sleep schedule is, and, if you're lucky, what you really enjoy doing.

 

Real-life example? I once knew a woman who took a year off from dating after a five-year relationship. She went to therapy, traveled alone in Portugal, and learned to surf. Now she runs her own business for women in Bali. Meanwhile, I learned some culinary tricks that have revitalized my cooking. We all heal in different ways.

 

 

Robin: Wild with a tender secret

Robin parties like a TikTok star with a timer. She's proudly single, but don't be fooled by the jokes — her wild independence stems from a desire to not need anyone. Beneath the surface is a woman who knows that freedom is power — but maybe connection isn't weakness either.

 

Truth? Sometimes the loudest people in the room have the quietest questions. "Am I loved even when I'm not funny?" Yes, Robin, definitely.

 

 

Lucy: Algorithmic romance

Lucy has a mission. She has dating profiles like Excel spreadsheets and is convinced that the right swipe will lead her to the wedding hashtag. But Lucy isn't shallow — she's just afraid that if she doesn't plan for love, she'll miss out on it. Eventually, she ditches the list and finds someone worth fighting for — but only after she lets go of her control.

 

The lesson? You can't plan love in a spreadsheet. But you can open your heart and let it be messy.

 

 

Meg: An independent woman who unexpectedly wanted more

Meg thought she didn't want a family — until she did. And that doesn't make her a traitor. It makes her human. Her story reminds us that independence doesn't mean isolation. Wanting love, a child, or even a partner on Netflix doesn't make you weaker — it just means you're being honest with yourself.

 

Motivational moment? Changing your mind is brave. And it's even braver to admit that you want a relationship when you've been saying you don't.

 

 

What does this film really teach us?

 

How To Be Single isn't just about dating — it's about discovering your own rhythm, rituals, and reasons for existing. The truth is, being single can be very fulfilling — if you stop thinking of it as a temporary waiting room for "real life."

 

This is what I've learned (and probably you too)...

• Time alone is not a curse—it's a mirror. It reflects everything you've been ignoring about yourself.
  
  
• Being alone is not the same as being lonely. Sometimes it's bliss. Sometimes it's three hours of watching funny dog videos. Both are okay.
  
  
• Love won't save you. You save yourself. Everyone else is just a bonus.
  
  
• There is no single right way to live your life. Marriage, no marriage, kids, no kids, dating apps, or taking care of a dog at 30—it's your show.

 

 

A little wisdom to end with: The Singles Manifesto

 

 

If you're in a period of your life where you're single — whether by choice or due to a twist of fate — let me say this:

"Your value does not lie in your relationship. It lies in your ability to sit in silence, laugh alone, heal out loud, and know that you are whole — not half waiting to be completed."

Go to the movies by yourself. Take a trip. Say no to people who ignore you, drain you, or only text you after midnight. Say yes to therapy, hobbies, traveling on your own, or just sitting in your bathrobe with chips and reruns of The Golden Girls.

 

 

One last tip from me...

Make a "Joy list."

Write down 10 things that bring you fulfillment—not just distraction or busyness, but fulfillment. Then do one of them every week. Not to find love. Just to find yourself.

Because you, my dear, are the main character—and your story is far from over.

How To Be Single is a romantic comedy. But being single? That's your original story.

Because, sweetheart, you're just getting started...

 

Slogan for your current life?

"Unchained. Unapologetic. Undeniably growing."

Your solo season is a masterpiece in the making.

 

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How did this film appeal to you? Did you identify with any of the heroines so much that you actually reevaluated your life?

Write your impressions in the comments...