The Unexpected Joy of Being Single: Locating unattached happiness

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society has consciously or unconsciously programmed our brains to think that marriage and starting a family is the ultimate goal of life, but no! The chances of getting married and staying happily married are so slim like literally the stats back that up. Most importantly, this book gave me the tough yet comforting reality that the happily ever after I’ve always thought I’d get is not the only happily ever after option. But in today's society it actually works against us and creates all this anxiety and depression,” says Catherine.

The guided sobriety journal inspired by the Sunday Times bestseller Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? I really enjoyed Catherine Gray's writing style in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, so I read this.When she's not writing, Catherine can generally be found taking twenty (identical) pictures of the sunset, wondering why she's always the sweatiest person in yoga, fighting her 'spend it all! If I wake up and I'm in a bad mood, which happens, I’m not a morning person, then I think of my happiness as kind of a choice.

Throughout history, whenever women have been allowed more educational, vocational and economic opportunities, they have delayed marriage or rejected it altogether,” Bolick says. As she put it in her 2017 hit Truth Hurts: “I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be your side chick … Ain’t worried ’bout a ring on my finger. That boosts my self esteem, because these things just fall out of our heads unless we hang onto them. With chapters like ‘Have your own shit, and keep doing it’ and ‘Know what you want, and talk about it’ — you’ll turn the last page with a clearer sense of what you actually want from a relationship. She’ll show you that being alone is not just okay, but it’s literally the best freaking thing that’ll ever happen to you.A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking, is long overdue. The heart of The Unexpected Joy of Being Single is Gray’s story of how she got from being a love addict and romantic cliché to feeling proud of her single life and confident that hers will be a happy life no matter how long her singlehood lasts. Anyone who’s been single long enough has likely been plagued with the same thought — what if I die alone? I am so glad I read this book (on a whim, because of a rail replacement bus), and I will certainly be revisiting it and recommending it to anyone who will listen.

So, I originally didn’t want to read this book because I protested to my friend that I AM already happy single but as soon as she mentioned that it spoke about love addiction, I was tempted and I’m now very glad I did read it. View All Life We’re here to give you all the life hacks you need to become your very own superhero and stay entertained, whether it’s at home or on an island far away. The notion of the ‘grass being greener’ on the other side – when singles think life would be better with a partner and unhappy people in relationships dream of being single or with someone else. Reclaiming the word “spinster”, and finding satisfaction in singledom, requires serious debunking of the marriage-means-life-made myth.You can listen to Catherine Gray's interview, or any episode of Woman's Hour, right now on BBC Sounds. I’m not 100% sure that the chapters work as quite a lot of information seems repeated, but no matter, it’s an optimistic book that is upbeat and fun, but ultimately has an important message. Finally, chuck in the hundreds of pro-drinking messages we see every day; films where a round of shots always comes with a whoop; fridge magnets that say 'I don't trust people who don't drink'; pub clapboards announcing 'Strong people need strong drinks'; and memes declaring 'Beer: it's a holiday in a glass. In What A Time To Be Alone , the Slumflower (AKA award-winning blogger, speaker, creative director and presenter of The MOBO Awards Chidera Eggerue) will be your life guru confidante and best friend.

According to Paul Dolan, a behavioural scientist from the London School of Economics, traditional benchmarks of adulthood such as marriage and children don’t always correlate with increased happiness. It showcases the danger of addiction and how having an app with access to thousands of men is as dangerous as it is good. There’s a massive difference between being alone and being lonely, and usually, it’s our relationship with ourselves that determines which one we’ll feel. I see a lot of people in relationships that I don't envy for a second and I know that I am better off. In The Unexpected Joy of Being Single, author Catherine Gray is single and happy at the end of her story.We know intellectually that single is far preferable to panic-settling, yet we forget that almost constantly. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. Seasoned solos may be more ‘joyful’ than newbies because let’s face it – not everyone is completely comfortable with their single status. This inspirational, aspirational and highly relatable narrative champions the benefits of sobriety; combining the author's personal experience, factual reportage, contributions from experts and self-help advice.