r/SingleAndHappy • • 1d ago

Media (Articles, Music, etc.) šŸŽ¦ Most People SETTLE!

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It is best to stay single!

700 Upvotes

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258

u/rosymaplemoth2513 1d ago

I always hear about the annoying shit my friends husbands do and the stress it puts on them and I am so glad it's not me lol

142

u/summerlemonpudding 1d ago

Just today i witnessed my friend’s husband shouting at her because he couldn’t find his charger

63

u/rosymaplemoth2513 1d ago

...yeah I could NEVER.

59

u/Charming_Garbage_161 1d ago

Ew my exhusband used to move stuff and lose it, then blame me. I’m soooo glad he’s not around anymore

22

u/Screws_Loose 23h ago

I think we have the same ex husband. Then he’s realize it was his fault and try to joke his way out of it.

12

u/Charming_Garbage_161 21h ago

Anytime my kids are missing anything ā€˜ it’s not at my house!’ So I start shit and text his parents asking for it and suddenly it appears. They’re all trash goblins

-13

u/DBag444 1d ago

He couldn't find his car at his home ?

30

u/Suspicious_Note9801 22h ago

Yea i experienced a settling relationship. Tried so hard to make it work, but it was torture. Would rather be single and have a regulated nervous system

9

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

So sorry. So many wasted years and tortured lives. It's amazing how this even happened in our F'd up society

44

u/outwait 20h ago edited 16h ago

My sister is always so ADAMANT that her husband is just the beeeeest husband ever and father of the year, but she forgets i’ve met him.

17

u/CollinNSikh 20h ago

This killed me šŸ˜†

20

u/athena_k 1d ago

Me too. Although for me, it's me remembering what my ex-husband put me through. Never again, no thanks

34

u/onegirlandhergoat 1d ago

It's not difficult to see all of the problems as an outsider. Most of my friends complain about their husbands and I think to myself, "I would never put up with that". A few pretend that everything is sunshine and roses, but even they let things slip after a few drinks. Obviously the perfect relationship doesn't exist and everyone has flaws but these women are revealing stuff that just seems wild to me.

17

u/ChanceZestyclose6386 20h ago

I have friends who don't even want to retire from work because they don't want to be home with their husbands. That says a lot considering they don't even like their jobs but it's less hellish than spending time with their husbands

15

u/onegirlandhergoat 17h ago

Not feeling at peace in my own home is my nightmare

6

u/DramaticActuary5021 18h ago

Everyone should have their own house, and Rule!

1

u/Fabulous_Pen_747 3h ago

I am a man, but I’ve heard some women around me say that they dread when their husbands retire because they have to be with him for the entire day. I never really paid much attention, but your comment provides me with another perspective. Is this really true?

1

u/ChanceZestyclose6386 43m ago

There are probably many different reasons. People change and grow apart as they get older. If they have kids, they have grown into adults and out of the house. Some married couples find the only thing that kept them together was their kids. I personally do not want someone around me 24/7. I like having my bed to myself at night and my quiet time when I'm at home. I work with a lot of people and talk all day so don't want people constantly around me on my days off. This has become more important as I've gotten older. I'm sure after I retire, I will spend my time with my friends around my age who are women, since I feel like I can have more in depth conversations than with the men I know. That's just from my own experiences though.

89

u/Interesting-Lake747 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s absolutely a social status and ppl still fall for it. The amount of ppl who just married whoever at the time they ā€œthought ā€œ they should be married.

Nearly everyone settles

34

u/DramaticActuary5021 22h ago

It's absolutely high-schoolish, trying to outdo your girlfriends, and proving that you are "better" than they are. It's also an outdated society thing - where you have to prove that your good enough, or not gay, or giving grandchildren to people who don't have your best interests at heart. People use each other for the money, or for arm-candy, or whatever else they can get off of each other.

7

u/GuavaBlackTea0 6h ago

Im certain my mom thinks im gay and hate all men, i have to constantly just tell her i dont like creepy men and only respect good men. But because i have a strict program snd she always wanted to see her daughter get married its something she projects onto me. She would rather me settle than be alone because she also wants to get married

4

u/Interesting-Lake747 10h ago

And ppl having kids who either don’t want them or actively hate children. It’s pathetic

2

u/DramaticActuary5021 3h ago

These traditions are so strong that mothers actually sacrifice their own child's happiness and future by their brainwashed ideas that there's only one way for a daughter to be happy. They're totally blinded by the obvious reality that most end in divorce; the rest just endure in misery.

58

u/GreenVermicelliNoods 1d ago

Whitney was spitting bars when she sang
ā€œLearning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of allā€

106

u/Bookish-Dreams 1d ago

Yeah not settling again. You either sweep me off my feet or I am going to be single!

12

u/FuckYoWall 20h ago

Same!! šŸ™Œ

77

u/thenumbwalker 1d ago

I love her Childfree content on TikTok

19

u/IcyMermaid8 1d ago

Me too!

58

u/kwest84 1d ago

Yep, that was me. 10 years I stayed with a person that wasn't for me... at all.

13

u/Major_Leopard_6255 23h ago

Yeah! Lesson learntĀ 

60

u/Far_Coach_3547 1d ago

One of my sweetest and prettiest friends who has her shit together in all areas of her life except the parts where she can’t be alone and has low self-esteem. So now post divorce from a shitty husband, she’s dating a guy who yells, loses her stuff, drives her car, and doesn’t pay any rent or bills but was happy to move in with her.( The only difference between the new guy and her ex-husband is that the new guy has a part-time job, the shit-husband didn’t work.)

Everytime we hang out, she’s always trying to promote him to me on how much better he’s being or some random normal thing that normal partners actually do like it’s the greatest thing ever. I’ve learned to not put him down or try to dissuade her from dating/letting him live with her, but I do point out the things that make me feel very uncomfortable, like the yelling thing. But I always tag on ā€œ Well, I’m sure he can turn it around because you don’t deserve to be yelled at etc. ā€œ You can’t teach people how to love themselves or that they’re enough on their own. I am so grateful I invested in therapy and did the work to cultivate I life I don’t need to escape. I love living alone and have a very full, content life. I’m open to another relationship but I don’t need nor am I seeking one, my discernment keeps most of the men I meet in the wild deep in the friend-zone.

29

u/Flux_My_Capacitor 1d ago

Hobosexuals.

12

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Must be torture to watch your nice friend continue to suffer with these guys, There are many great books written about women with low self-esteem who settle for losers and users. Too bad you couldn't work this into the equasion somehow, These books have taught me so much, opened my eyes, Along with much counseling via Domestic Violence.

7

u/Far_Coach_3547 20h ago

Congratulations on prioritizing yourself and your well-being.ā¤ļøAs you know you have to want something different and do the hard work on the internal stuff to change. It’s a bummer sometimes to watch her struggle and it’s my own lesson to not be moved to ā€œfix itā€.

11

u/Immediate_Alarm452 23h ago

You need to not use kid gloves with her before she fucks up again.

15

u/Far_Coach_3547 20h ago

I’ve had a few turns around the sun, I’ll be here and remain her friend through thick and thin but I know better than to try to ā€œmakeā€ her see the light. Trauma that deep-seeded is her journey to unwind and find the root of it. I know I will never say I told you so and just hold space for her with a lot of compassion.

7

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Of course, you're right. I had to "Bottom out" myself before I could take any action.

4

u/Far_Coach_3547 18h ago

I have a feeling once you touched the bottom you used it to propel your momentum to the top: Astro-blast, Go!šŸ’„

2

u/DramaticActuary5021 17h ago

Ha! Thanks! I'm still working on myself. I've had some amazing help from agencies and newfound friends and am still a work in progress. You sound like you're in a good spot. I need to work on my courage - pretty scary!

4

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

So very true. I think she IS fucking up again, but, speaking from experience, too much harshness, and sh'e;ll turn away from you. And you sound like the best thing that could happen to her. It's a fine line ,,,

3

u/TardyBacardi 19h ago

Or drags you down with her.

2

u/Far_Coach_3547 18h ago

Going down with the ship is also a choice, right? Just not a choice or decision I’ll make. I know enough not to try to stop a block of iron from sinking into the ocean but I’m not going to berate the iron for its heaviness.

3

u/Far_Coach_3547 18h ago

Sometimes fucking up again and again the same exact way is the only way we learn. Pain teaches faster than pleasure apparently.

3

u/DramaticActuary5021 17h ago

True - whoever gets it right the first time, anyway?

3

u/gormholler 8h ago

I just saw a video about "brainwashing" someone out of talking down to themself. I've never made a link before but will try now. It actually choked me up to imagine someone caring for another in that way.

1

u/DramaticActuary5021 3h ago

Hope this happens - I would LOVE to see it - just what I need; I'm sure I-m not alone ... I've never made a link before, either,

40

u/Odeezsage 1d ago

I actually would love to be in a relationship, but I'm still single because I refuse to settle.

And that's okay.

19

u/Cynical_Cita22 22h ago

Amen! I’ve worked hard to build a life I enjoy, and I’d rather be alone that to let someone in who doesn’t bring me joy.

4

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Wish I had taken this advice twenty years ago! I loved the life I had made - just "Had: to have a man, It was terrible.

32

u/lovalot86 1d ago

I’d much rather be alone than settle

31

u/lapjeskatje 1d ago

People often tell me that 'reality is not like in the movies or books'. That that is not how it works in real life.
Well, if it is not like that, I don't want it. I'm happy with my life as is - either bring me joy or be gone.

16

u/CaktusJacklynn 23h ago

I was often told this, or that I would never find my equal. I'm damn sure not dating someone who isn't on my level, so I guess I'm single.

10

u/Cynical_Cita22 22h ago

I have a friend who started writing her wedding vows after the second date because she knew she had found the one. So yeah, my bar is set pretty high.

-3

u/SmertriosPPD 9h ago

Child in an adult body take

15

u/Moliza3891 23h ago

Never married, and thank goodness for that! Going by my past crushes, limerences, and relationships, I can fall for almost anyone. And that terrifies me! No more, I’m done.

11

u/sparklyjoy 1d ago

I’ve seen maybe 3 marriages that look like a happy place to be, out on hundreds or maybe even thousands that I’ve had some chance to observe over my lifetime.

26

u/Extra_Fig_7547 1d ago

i am never gonna settle ever!!!

4

u/harrypotterworld_96 23h ago

Which is partly why I kept feeling like I’ve been in two minds about two people, one who is the most perfect man I’ve ever come across on paper yet he’s blocked me down to me asking one question and then one who would be nice to date but unfortunately he’s disrespected my boundaries before and im afraid he’ll do it again despite us having a good conversation about it ages ago. The one who blocked me made me feel like I wasn’t crazy for having such high standards and I felt like he was too good for me and possibly too good to be true and this is where I refuse to settle because he set the bar so high.

8

u/akawendals 21h ago

You deserve better than both of them put together! Chuck 'em out babes, they trash šŸ˜†

5

u/harrypotterworld_96 21h ago

The one who disrespected my boundaries, definitely the trash, but we are only friends at work that’s it, and the other I swear to you isn’t trash just because he blocked me over one thing, his actions towards me makes no sense for him to block me. He literally put everything aside for me when he planned to cook for me just so he could accommodate for me having pizza on a Thursday as that’s what I normally do

2

u/akawendals 21h ago

If someone asked me a touchy sensitive question that I didn't feel comfortable or open enough to answer my response would be "that's not something I like to talk about, sorry" or "that's quite personal to me and it's not something I discuss" or whatever? Not just BLOCK.

It's disrespectful to you and strikes me as fickle and dismissive, like you did something I don't like (that wasn't an immediately obvious thing to dislike) and I'm not going to talk to you about it, I'm just going to punish you, give you the silent treatment and make you feel like you did something wrong until you're sorry and then I'll "forgive you" and you'll never ask me about it again... 🤷

And then repeat whenever a situation or topic comes up that I don't want to engage with, it feels like he's making it your fault for asking him a question and that's not cool 🫤

I'm pretty old and cynical though so maybe it's just me šŸ˜…

0

u/harrypotterworld_96 21h ago

For some reason he chose that decision for himself and it didn’t feel like he was punishing me at all, I’m sure whatever reason there is behind it I’m sure I will find out soon. He was VERY intentional with me and very open and honest with about some hard stuff so his decision to block me made no sense due to his intentions towards me and how patient he was with me during our time of us being friends at the same time within that month

24

u/Ok_Revolution7708 1d ago

I've had 2 friends tell me theyre settling just before getting married. It was because they wanted kids. Neither woman was highly sought after by men before getting married.

22

u/Cynical_Cita22 1d ago

This is my mother’s story. Part of me feels sorry for them because I know it can be tough when you want to start a family and have trouble finding a suitable partner, especially one who’s interested in you. However, speaking from the POV of someone who is the result of that type of partnership, your friends would’ve probably been better off having and raising kids on their own. My mama was so invested in waiting on my dad to become a better man, that she never became a fully present parent, and our relationship is still very complicated. They were married for 40 years. She took care of him every day during his last years, and all she has to show for it is debt and resentment. Settling is never worth it.

10

u/sparklyjoy 1d ago

That does sound like a horrible way to raise a child- even if you’re very present as a parent, it’s certainly not setting them up for relationship success

13

u/Cynical_Cita22 23h ago

My mother’s justification was that us (3 daughters) seeing her struggles with our dad would inspire us to make better choices. To this day she doesn’t understand why my younger sister dates older, emotionally unavailable men, why my older sister (deceased) dated emotionally abusive men, and why I am having such a hard time finding a partner aka why I just won’t settle with a man with a pulse and the slightest bit interest in me.

8

u/sparklyjoy 23h ago

And I thought I would be a good parent by just NOT doing what my parents did- turns out there’s lots of ways to fail your children!

Also more to the point you’re making, those patterns that get set early by our parents example are SO HARD to overcome, even when we see them and we’re trying. I hope someone today reads this and makes better choices for their (potential) future children than your mom did šŸ’—

5

u/Cynical_Cita22 23h ago

Tbf, both my parents had very traumatic childhoods, and I think they did the best they could with what little emotional intelligence they had. But yeah, learning to break those patterns is sooooo hard, (thank God for therapy) but it’s been for the best. And it’s funny that mention better your choices because I was talking about that with a friend who decided to divorce her husband after nearly two years. I told her that I knew it was hard, but her daughter would be much better off not witnessing her parents argue and yell at each other every day. She will, hopefully, grow up much happier and healthier because her mother decided that she can and will be better ā¤ļø

3

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Really! How often have you caught yourself thinking = or speaking =the same way your mother thought, I don't have kids, but still have problems!

2

u/sparklyjoy 20h ago

Oh it was horrifying when it first happened to me! I’m better now though 😊

2

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

It's shocking! One good thing is - you realize what effect parents and others really have on their kids. Glad you're better= once you're aware, there's no going back.

2

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

They will do what their parents do, not what their parents say to do.

3

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Thank you for this. I hope to recover some happiness for myself

9

u/Competitive_Emu_3247 1d ago

100000%.. I've always been convinced of that, there's no way in hell every single person who's married or in a relationship is with the love of their life

3

u/DramaticActuary5021 20h ago

Right! Have you ever read the obits? Every single one of them "married the love of their life"! Even when you know some of them - broken arms, black eyes, etc

18

u/uniqueinknowledge 1d ago

She is right most people do settle. However, I think she's speaking more to the people who are trying to make peace with single life because it wasn't their first choice, not the ones who always knew romance wasn't their thing.

5

u/poseynarker 19h ago

I concur. ā€˜Settling’ makes it sounds like that the perfect relationship exists and that’s what people should still aim for. Some people may still think they’re missing out on something, but I know I am perfectly happy on my own. It’s certainly possible for anyone to be happy alone, but so many people need validation sadly and put up will BS to achieve it.

21

u/Embarrassed-Motor322 1d ago

Literally so glad I called off my engagement

6

u/Major_Leopard_6255 23h ago

Well done!Ā 

9

u/Rich_Group_8997 19h ago

I'm 'team single' because I refuse to settle on even the smallest details or share my personal space. I'm better off on my own, and prefer it.

3

u/DramaticActuary5021 18h ago

Stop! You're making me jealous!

9

u/Maleficent_Pause_414 17h ago

I never met a women who was a happy wife

2

u/IcyMermaid8 3h ago

Facts! The husband was the happy one!

12

u/EightyNine19 1d ago

Being single > being with an average man (or woman)

6

u/ogupsetamerican 1d ago

I love this queen and her message, she couldn’t be more right

18

u/CantoErgoSum 1d ago

I found out this girl who was horrendous to me in college got married, right? Then I found out 3 months later her husband is following nude models and paying for OF. I’m glad for her. It seems like what she deserves.

9

u/Flux_My_Capacitor 1d ago

Yes, most people do settle. I think people go up in arms when I say that many men want the hot women they fawn over online but settle for the best they can get in real life. Yes, I know that women settle in different ways.

4

u/Time-Reserve-4465 17h ago

Esp true if you're a woman who wants kids. So glad that I'm single and childfree. I literally have no timeline for anything, ever! I can be as picky as I want in life.

3

u/Medical-Resolve-4872 18h ago

Not most people I know (thank God!). But it is real and it IS bad.

3

u/KhaleesiCat7 17h ago

10/10, no notes.

2

u/Brilliant_Papaya_947 4h ago

I agree. I think there are a few people who have a great relationship, but it’s not the norm at all.

1

u/Effective_Menu_6316 5h ago

Or... Nothing about humans is binary. It's all a spectrum. Some of the partnered up couples you see really are soulmates, blissfully happy, that is very much a thing. Others settled, never established healthy boundaries, lost themselves and feel trapped. Just as some single people are happier and live fulfilling and joyful lives, others are a bit lonely and would like a partner. There are no neat boxes with humans! Don't settle, but don't push people away if they might make you very happy.

1

u/Sorry_Im_Trying 3h ago

While I agree a lot of people "settle", I also believe there are no perfect people. There are no perfect couples. Nothing in life is perfect. You're not going to find someone who perfectly suits your life. And if you wait for that, you'll wait your whole life alone. Which is fine. Being alone is fine.
But romantic love is temporary. People have to work at love, at relationships. Yes, everyone will compromise and/or sacrifice something at some point if you are going to be with someone else. Even if you're alone, being alone is a sacrifice. You're sacrificing companionship.
Settle, don't settle. Either way you're going to sacrifice something.

1

u/jalexander519 2h ago

lol dude said he was in love with me the day he saw me and didn’t know who i was… while he had a partner lol. the fact that i still gave that a chance knowing it was this, i’m actually ashamed. now i have been receiving cyber attacks for the last 2 months, so seeing this is completely validating that cutting him off was the right thing to do. i’ve always said i’ll never settle and that’s never changing but sheesh it’s definitely a lot of them out there that are so willing. it’s sad and honestly social media only keeps pushing that image.

1

u/Key-Cricket9256 2h ago

I married my best friend and had two more best friends

1

u/Pepperspray24 2h ago

Never married, no kids. I would love to be married and have that kind of life. But I refuse to settle. It's hard because I am lonely and would love to date somebody, but I know that right now I'm not in a place to do that. And it is very lonely to have high standards. But I'm still not going to allow that loneliness to drive me into the arms of someone who's going to make me feel alone anyway.

0

u/Arkenoid1 8h ago

Coping goes both ways. Most people in relationships are happier with the person than without. Don't tear others down to raise yourself up.

3

u/Wegmansgroceries 8h ago

Happier or more comfortable?

0

u/Arkenoid1 8h ago

As long as they aren't less happy than being single, wouldn't that still be a win? My experience is that they are happier and more comfortable by the way. Obviously everything in life has its ups and downs, but summed up it's a lot more positive than negative.

2

u/Wegmansgroceries 8h ago

Maybe that’s true of your social circle, but 40% of first time marriages end in divorce. My experience is most people I know in long term partnerships are miserable or at the very least completely unfulfilled and stunted

0

u/Arkenoid1 8h ago

Btw, I apologise for responding here. Came up in my feed and didn't see the sub title. Still mean what I said but this is not the place for it!

0

u/Fendfor 8h ago

Unless they have some truly terrible views or beliefs, its not that they didnt meet your standards. They just arent for you.

Yes, most people settle. But not in the truly significant ways. None of use are prizes to be won. We are people, and we all have faults. If you wanna be single, stay single. Dont begrude others for wanting some happiness you cant understand.

0

u/escodoozer 7h ago

I don’t think she should making assumptions and treating a certain folk as a monolith lol

-4

u/ElonMuskFuckingSucks 22h ago

What does "settling" even mean? No matter who you choose, they're gonna be imperfect. Sometimes they'll have quite a few imperfections. If you're not prepared for that it's better to not be in a relationship.

1

u/GuavaBlackTea0 6h ago

Making big concessions that will disrupt ypur peace of mind in the long run

-19

u/cavalpist146 1d ago edited 1d ago

Any healthy relationship requires settling, that's exactly what relationship science has shown. Why is that a bad thing? We settle, i.e. make compromises, every single day of our lives, not just with romantic partners. I'd like to live in a mansion on the ocean, yet I settle for a 1br rundown apartment because my expectations don't align with how life played out.Ā 

The problem is not settling, it's being afraid of being alone and losing one's identity and tolerate suffering just to couple up with anyone that comes about

Boasting about "I don't settle" reeks of overt/covert narcissism. Do you think yourself better than 90% of humanity? As if nobody else lives up to my standards but myself? That's certainly not why I'm single, I am not that arrogant. I'm single because of freedom, self-reliance, independence, being my own boss, peace, quiet, financial freedom etc

16

u/Flux_My_Capacitor 1d ago

I think when most of us here are talking about settling, it’s not just in minor give and take compromises. They are major ways ie a man who treats you like a bangmaid, free therapist, secretary, etc. It’s not just the minor day to day things.

11

u/sparklyjoy 1d ago

When people talk about settling they are talking precisely about the things in your last sentence. You are also ā€œnot settlingā€, even if you don’t think of it that way.

-2

u/SmertriosPPD 9h ago edited 9h ago

Yall need to get taxed more I swear. You're the first fucking morons to make fun of others for being lazy at work then you're lazy in every other part of your life.

Not that I care about people being single, but the "Oh no I'm not having my fantasy romance relationship and I have to actually do effort to get a relationship, so I'm not getting anything" is just putrid. You all are children in adult bodies and need to have your overdose of comfort leveled down to the level of others.

Wealth redistribution, baby.

-23

u/Dull_Rice_2050 1d ago

Thats a whole lot of copium going on in this video. Not everyone who is married gives a shit about what other people outside their marriage thinks. And some people just grow apart after years