The worst places to be single at Christmastime

There’s a huge difference between being alone and being single. In fact, I think it’s nice to be alone sometimes at Christmastime. One of my favorite memories (though I’ll tell you it pissed me off) was being left alone at the Christmas market in Vienna, Austria. I was left to wander through the beautiful lights drinking mulled wine and watching people I’d never see again in my life.

I’m here to tell you all of the places that you don’t want to be single at Christmastime…probably because I or someone I know has been there.

At your family dinner table

Yes, that’s the actual table that I get asked 100 questions a minute at

You know that your aunt and grandmother are going to ask about that boy. Yeah, you know which boy. The one that didn’t work out. But you’re smart and you’re going to tell them through choked back tears that it did. Or you’re going to stay quiet. Your choice.

In Paris, France or literally anywhere in Europe

This one kind of speaks for itself, you damn hopeless romantic. Spending Christmastime in Europe made me a little bitter because of all the cute couples at the Christmas markets doing their cute couple thing. It’s fine though. I’m fine.

Sitting across the table from the guy it didn’t work out with

We’ve all been in this situation…some of us more than others. I’m happy to say that it almost never happens to me.

Alone in your dorm in Syracuse

There’s nothing worse than the cold snow and ice if you aren’t used to it and if there’s no one to keep you warm. Time to climb under your blanket and cry yourself to sleep while your roommates sit in the living room, not knowing what to do. (Shout out to my very tolerant roommates for letting me cry about 10 times every week, but I don’t cry because I’m single.)

The Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink

Nothing more beautiful than New York at Christmastime!

Pretty much every New Yorker (myself included) would 128% get engaged at the Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink so seeing everyone else in their mid-twenties to thirties is successful and getting engaged and doing all that gross happy crap. Do we want to see their success while we crumble apart? Hell no.

At the movie theater

I didn’t sign up to see all of these couples sucking face during Fantastic Beasts. I just came to see a movie that I knew wouldn’t make me cry this holiday season because I know that I get weirdly emotional watching movies where adults believe in the magic of Christmas aka Santa.

Despite the fact that many people think that being single and nearly twenty years old is a curse, I’m going to let you in on a secret: It isn’t. Life goes on for much longer than twenty years. Let’s be real. What twenty year old has money to spend on extra gifts anyway? Not me, that’s for sure.

Happy Holidays, Syracuse!

@kaitlynmenegio