I know Good Friday has a great amount of meaning for Christians, and that today may also be a holiday for other religions.

Good Friday has a great amount of meaning for me because it was five years ago on Good Friday that I was hospitalized due to a deeply disturbing emotional breakdown.

Looking back on that time, I realize my identity was in the midst of a fundamental transformation. A transformation from adolescent to adult, from rebellion to acceptance, from addiction to responsibility.

Perhaps I was a better advocate for enjoying the single life back when I was actually enjoying the single life, but occasionally some of my friends express sadness or frustration with being single and I want to somehow magically help them feel better about their lives as-is.

All I have to offer is my own experience:

(1) The best romantic relationships in my adult life were/are with people I met via mutual friends. That's how I met KWC, Chuck, and Tod. Moose was recommended to me via his room-mate. Friends look out for each other, and your friends can help you to meet good dating material. Stop using online profile services to meet strangers, and spend more time with the people who already care about you: your friends.

(2) It is important to spend big chunks of your adult life as a single person. This is the time when you can explore life unencumbered. This is the time when you can make plans without having to consult anybody else. This is the time when you can play around and explore your sexual fantasies without worrying about emotional compability (as long as you play safely). This is the time when you get to decide when you clean the bathroom, or how to set the thermostat. Enjoy this time! Learn to stand on your own two feet.