The theory is that we weren’t meant to be alone, that somewhere in the world is a mate for all of us. So like good little elves, we dutifully spend our lives looking for that person, often making hair-raising mistakes along the way.
理论上我们并不是有意要单身，因为世界上的某个地方一定有个人在等着。所以，我们就像是善良的小精灵一般，终其一生寻找爱侣，尽管找寻之路难免出错。
When one of us decides to intentionally stay single, society gets into a proverbial panic and goes into overdrive to hook us up. If you want some good reasons to stay single, we can give you some.
当我们中有人决定主动保持单身状态，社会就会陷入一片恐慌，并且会加大力度让我们恋爱。如果你想知道保持单身的好理由，我能给你们一些。
1.Forget House Cleaning
1.忘记打扫房屋
It’s a fact that a single person doesn’t need as clean an abode as a couple does. Granted, it’s also a fact that one person messes less than two people do, but somehow when you’re in a relationship of any genre, having a clean home seems to double in importance.
事实上，单身并不需要像小两口那样打扫房间。但是，两个人比一个人时更加脏乱，这也是事实。但不知怎的，不论你处于何种关系中，拥有干净整洁的家会显得格外重要。
You have dishes to wash, dusting to do, floors to clean—when you’re alone, somehow none of that matters. The universe opens up to you with far more important activities to take part in.
盘子需要洗，灰尘要清除，地板要打扫—当你孤身一人时，这所有的一切都不那么重要了。宇宙向你敞开大门：快去参加比打扫卫生更重要的活动吧！
2.Be More Spontaneous
2.更加随意自然
Happiness is never having to ask anyone’s permission. When you’re single, you can accept a last-minute invitation to that art gallery opening or dinner with friends, without having to worry about whatever plans your significant other might have.
你永远不需要得到他人允许后才变得快乐。单身时，你可以随时接受去美术馆或是和朋友共进晚餐的邀请，而不必担心你的另一半会有其他的计划。
Seize the moment to do the things you’ve always wanted to—taking a flight in a hot air balloon, staying out partying with friends until sunrise or booking a weekend trip to the Rocky Mountains as the whim takes you. You’ll never have to apologize, either.
抓住这个时机，做那些你一直想做的事情—坐热气球，和朋友们聚会直到天亮，突发奇想在某个周末去落基山脉旅行，做这些事你也不会对谁感到抱歉。
3.Sleep When You Feel Like It
3.想睡就睡
All of us have quirks and foibles that others find irritating. Staying single frees you up from this problem. So you’re a night owl who enjoys watching old movies until 4 in the morning, then sleeping until noon?
我们每个人都有让人抓狂的怪癖和缺点。单身的你不用担心这个问题。因此，作为夜猫子的你喜欢看老电影直到清晨4点钟，然后一觉睡到大中午？
When you’re single, you can do so without having to deal with your lover wondering why you’re “depressed” because you’re awake, sobbing and eating ice cream from the container while you watch "Casablanca" in the wee hours for the thousandth time.
如果你是单身，你可以这么做，并且不会在意对方是否怀疑你抑郁，因为你很清醒，可以无数遍地边看卡萨布兰卡，边抽泣，还可以吃着冰淇淋。
4.Have a Better Career
4.拥有更好的事业
You might not have more actual money, because funding a single lifestyle on one income can be pricey, but you’ll definitely move up in the ranks faster on your own. For one thing, you can work late without getting into trouble at home.
你或许没有很多钱，因为单凭自己有限的工资来投资单身生活是很昂贵的，但是你的个人提升绝对相当快。一方面，你可以不受家中琐事影响工作到很晚。
For another, you don’t need your partner’s approval to join your boss and colleagues for a drink or three after work, which is a great way of integrating into the team. Wipe those arguments out of your life and get on with climbing the corporate ladder instead.
另一方面，如果下班后想和老板、同事喝几杯，你并不需要得到另一半的批准，这是融入团队的好途径啊。把不必要的争论从生活中移除，取而代之的是攀登事业的梯子。
5.Stay Thinner and Fitter
5.保持苗条和健康
Dude, it’s true. Relationships are fattening—and unhealthy! Haven’t you always heard married men complain that their wives’ cooking is making them fat? And the first thing women do when they get into a relationship is put up the pounds.
老兄，这是真的。谈恋爱让人变胖—变得不健康！你难道没听过已婚男士抱怨妻子把他们养得很胖？女生一旦恋爱，她们面临的第一件事就是变胖。
Whether it’s because they’re cooking—and eating—more, or just because they’re too busy spending time with the new lover to go to the gym, the fact is that single people are trimmer, fitter and generally healthier. Keep yourself in great shape and you’ll keep them knocking at the door.
不管是因为他们烹饪—吃，或只是忙于陪伴新交的男朋友去健身房，事实是单身人士更加苗条，更加健康。保持良好身形，健康和苗条就会自动找上门哦！
