Dear Readers,
“Better be in a bad marriage than being single.”
That´s something I thought I would never hear in 2026. But as you can guess, I did. To be honest, I heard it from a very young person who is more a victim of their culture than anything else, but it made me think about it.
Historically speaking, especially marriages were important for securing a bloodline, preserving culture and language, as well as property rights. However, as times and cultures change, the importance of relationships has also evolved. Unfortunately, not all cultures have yet caught up to this fact.
Nowadays, you should be able to decide whether you want to be in a relationship or not and what this relationship is supposed to look like.
I don´t talk about it often, but I´ve been single for about 15 years now. Some of you might be single for an equal amount of time, or even longer. So you might relate to that feeling. I realised at some point in the last weeks that I actually never had a longer, serious relationship while being an adult. Sure, I´ve had what I call “relationship trials”, but if I´m being honest, none of them were relevant. And you know what I realised?
I´m not missing anything.
Regardless of that, some people look at me and pity me, and when I ask them why they want me to have a relationship, the answer is always the same: “I just want to see you happy!” or “I want you to be taken care of.”
Well, I understand that some people might want a relationship and cannot find a fitting partner; that is a bit of a different situation. But for me personally, I´m content with the situation. Would I want companionship sometimes? Yes, sure. Do I really need a relationship? No!
Regardless of culture, age, or gender, being single may not always be chosen or preferred — but it should never be treated as something that needs to be explained, pitied, or fixed.
How about you? Do you prefer a relationship or not?
And how does your culture see it?
Best,
Ace