Before 1960, it was not uncommon to be planning a wedding after high school graduation. Currently, the average age to get married is almost 28 for a woman and 30 for a man. People are waiting an average of five years of being together before they get married. The average couple moves in and lives together for around two years before deciding to tie the knot. Not only is the institution of marriage changing, but dating is different than ever before.

Even though statistics show that more people are waiting longer to become man and wife, it can be hard for a recent college graduate to accept being single.

For example, the second I get on Facebook I could 'guess-timate' that I will see around five newly engaged couples, three wedding posts, a couple baby showers, and quite a few happy anniversary posts. It can be intimidating and almost discouraging to witness your peers around you moving on to a different season of life.. while you just simply are not there yet.

Whether you are the president of the single's club or simply just a new member.. there are many benefits that you may not realize while you are overwhelmed with the relationships around you.

1. You can do whatever you want!

If you want to order a large pizza, you do not have to ask for another opinion when deciding to order pepperoni or Hawaiian. If you want to go on a vacation, you can book something without having to worry about whether your significant other will be upset, jealous, or protective of you going without him/her. Also, you will never have to share the bottle of wine if you do not want to.

The career decisions that you make involve what is best for you, without making the sacrifices for someone else yet. You can make day-to-day life decisions that are based upon what is best for YOU. Use this time to make lists of things you want to accomplish, places you want to go, and things you want to see.. then conquer that list!

2. You have the time to discover who you are

Being in a season of 'alone time' does not necessarily mean that you are lonely. Take the time for yourself to discover who you really are, what you are really passionate about, what your dreams and goals are, and what makes you want to get up in the morning. There may be things that you discover during this season of singleness that you can only find out about yourself through constant reflection.

3. You can use this time to build meaningful friendships

You have this stage in life that gives you the ability to invest more time in people. Use this opportunity to find out meaningful things about the people you are in community with. Take the time to make lunch plans, follow through with hanging out with others, go for happy-hours with co-workers, and meet up with friends that you haven't seen in years. The best friend I have ever made was during a time where we both had the opportunity and time to invest in each other's company.

4. Realize you have no set timeline

With marital trends, it is easy to be pressured into thinking that your time is 'running out' to find someone and get married or have children. It is important to notice that life does not have a set timeline. If you do not get married before 35, it will still be okay. If you do not have kids by the age you pictured, that is fine too. Your life should be set on the timeline of you being ready.. you being in place.. you having the right person by your side.

Enjoy your state of singleness.

Be spontaneous. Enjoy your whole entire bed to yourself. Go out and home whenever you want. Travel. Control your own thermostat. Spend the money on yourself. Build your relationship with God. Grow your career. Find out who you are... and be happy with yourself! This might not be a time that you will ever get back in your life - so make the best of it!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."