Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: single girl

Another Year Single

Catherine shares 5 ways she’s grown in being single

PHOTO: Tara Freese.

A year ago, I wrote about the benefits of investing in yourself as a single girl. A year later, I’m still single! We talk about being superbly single, but we’ve stressed the status to include all independent women. Today I want to delve deeper in actually being single, unattached, not in a relationship. As I’ve mentioned before, I have never had a serious boyfriend. So if you’re looking for an expert at being single, I am that.

When I share my status out loud, or I make a joke like “How is this girl still single?” or “Wouldn’t it be funny if I’m the next cousin to get married?” even if I’m the only cousin who isn’t dating anyone, it may seem like self-deprecation to save face before someone reminds me that I’ll “meet the right person when it’s time”… but truly I’m proud of my eternal singlehood. Of course, like anyone else, I have my moments of freaking out about turning 40 and not being married. But for the most part, I’m happy with the choices I’ve made for myself.

I’ve reflected on and written about many revelations I encountered the past year in regard to living in the moment and finding the message in every obstacle. Starting The Single Diaries has pushed me to live superbly single, consciously and unconsciously. It’s been a year of growth: I recognized unhappiness in my life and came face to face with it. I spent time trying to remedy discontentment with more side projects, more social outings, more play when what I really needed was complete quiet.

Among those remedies to try to increase the fun and counter the stress was online dating in the form of fun and easy apps. What I learned from my short stint of serial dating was what we all know but don’t acknowledge: For those of us who desire monogamy and marriage, dating is a way to audition or interview to find the “right” partner. It’s also a way for us to understand what we want and merely who we are as individuals.

Sure, there are lessons I have yet to learn from being in a committed relationship, but I think there are just as many in learning how to be alone. Here are the ones that have been most important to my personal growth.

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September 5, 2014
All Hail Our Single Girls
A Shout Out to Our Amazing Contributors, Our Single Girls

As we celebrate 1 year of The Single Diaries we would be remiss not to recognize the Single Girls who have contributed to the making of this site. From our long-time friends to friends whom we’ve recently met, there are nearly 50 amazing women whose talents make up these pages.

The posts that they have contributed are as varied as the women themselves. Some have shared their advice through original articles. Others have let us tap their talents for an interview. While still others have shared their words of wisdom for posts Catherine and I have put together.

No matter the method, the result remains the same. We are always inspired by their passion, ability, and fortitude. We’ve:
- Learned from their adventures in romance.
- Explored the world through their travels.
- Gotten to know the cities they call home.
- Been motivated by their pursuits.
Needless to say, we think our Single Girls rock.

A few weeks ago one of our contributors introduced me to a dinner party game called “I’m a badass because…”. Everyone around the table was asked to share what personal accomplishments she was most proud of. I had two immediate reactions when our host initiated the game- fear and appreciation. Fear because I, like many of us, am not comfortable tooting my own horn. Appreciation, for having a friend that was pushing this group of girls not only to cheer for one another but also for themselves.

When I thought about the best way to recognize The Single Diaries contributors I could think of no better idea than to carry forward this game and allow each girl the chance to express what she is most proud. See what they had to say-

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August 27, 2014
The Single Girl Thanksgiving Commandments

Thanksgiving is just a week away, hooray! The holiday is one of my favorite times of the year. How often do we make time to spend an entire day with our family, friends, and loved ones undistracted, simply enjoying a great meal and each other’s company? If you’re like me, the answer is not enough.

With the bustle of preparing for travel, hosting, and cooking it can be easy to lose sight of the purpose of it all. There are flights to book, decorations to make, and recipes to dig up. Getting it all right can put a single girl under a lot of pressure!

Of course, getting it right doesn’t have to be that complicated which is why we’ve come up with The Single Girl Thanksgiving Commandments. Read on for our countdown of the top 10 things you can do to get the most out of the holiday.

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November 21, 2013
Taking on a Passion for Fashion

The Single Diaries dishes with Edana Hoehn, on fashion, creativity, and inspiration.

“I’m inspired by the people and life around me. It’s pretty incredible what you can think up when you take the time to slow down and look around at what really makes people happy and what could make their life better, easier or more beautiful.”

Welcome back to Single Girl Brunches with the Best—a series of conversations with friends and leading ladies who are fierce, fearless and inspirational.

In the spirit of New York Fashion Week which culminated yesterday, I caught up with fabulous fashion designer and favorite single girl, Edana Hoehn, to talk about her passion for fashion.

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September 13, 2013