You Don’t Have to Be Lonely and Dateless During the Holidays

If you want to break up with your current flame during the holidays but can't seem to get around to doing it, what's keeping you? If you are like a lot of women out there, the reason why you are stringing your relationship along even if things aren't working out for you anymore is that you don't want to be lonely, miserable and alone at a time when family and relationships matter.

That is so understandable, really. The holiday season after all is all about rituals and traditions, and none of these rituals and traditions include being alone. Sometimes, it is easier to put up with someone you are not really happy with rather than being entirely on your own.

However, as I mentioned in my previous posts on breaking up during the holidays, it's not really fair for you or your soon-to-be ex if you keep prolonging the inevitable just because it's the holidays. Just because you happened to end your relationship any time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, it doesn't mean you have to be totally miserable and lonely for the rest of the season. In fact, you are opening yourself to a whole lot of opportunities when you call it quits with your current flame this time of the year.

The World Is Full of Single People

When you are newly single during the holidays, or any time of the year for that matter, you'd be surprised at just how many single people there are crawling out of the woodwork to cross your path. Many of them are people you've already met; you just never noticed them before because you were still in a relationship and are thus preoccupied.

As long as you show up at the holiday parties and gatherings you got invited to, you are likely to meet someone. If the host or hostess is game, he or she will try to play Cupid and try to match you up with someone else. Who knows? Maybe that innocent match-up may turn into a hookup, and that hookup may still be there with you for Valentine's Day, if not for longer.

Of course, holiday parties and gatherings are not the only opportunities you have for meeting other people when you are newly single during the holidays. You can try online dating websites or speed dating. Heck, if you are up to it, you can meet someone while shopping for your Christmas turkey at the supermarket. Just keep your eyes peeled and be open for such opportunities.

It Doesn't Have to Be a Lover

But then again, you don't have to force yourself to find a new lover just because you are newly single and it's the holidays. Hookups are fun, sure, but they can have consequences you may not have anticipated. Besides, they can make your holiday blues even bluer if the other party doesn't call you after you've had a good time together.

If you're not ready to be in a new relationship and short-term fun just isn't your thing, you can find love elsewhere. Surround yourself with friends and family, for one. Or you can volunteer your time to your church or your local charity and help out the less fortunate.

Being afraid to be lonely and dateless during the holidays is not a reason to string along a relationship that is not working anymore. There is always an opportunity to meet new people, especially during the holidays. Also, just because you are dateless means you can't have love this time of the year. Look around you; there is always love to be found and spread around.

What's keeping you from breaking up during the holidays?

(Image: pdufour from stock.xchng)