I’m Julia, 42 years old, and I’ve made a conscious choice to stay single. It wasn’t always easy, and there were times when I wondered if I was making a mistake by not settling down like so many of my friends. But the truth is, I refuse to settle for anything less than someone who truly deserves me.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about myself—about my strengths, my values, and what truly matters in life. I’ve been in relationships where I gave more than I should have, compromised too much, and allowed myself to shrink in the name of love. Each of those relationships taught me something important, but the most valuable lesson was realizing that a meaningful relationship should enhance my life, not take away from who I am.

I’ve worked hard to build a life I love. My career, my friendships, my passions—these are the things that bring me joy. I’ve built a foundation of independence and self-sufficiency, and I’m not willing to let anyone come in and disrupt that balance. I want a partner who appreciates me for who I am, not someone who expects me to change or diminish myself to fit into their idea of what a relationship should look like.

Love, in my eyes, should complement the life I’ve worked so hard to create. It should add something beautiful, something that makes me feel more alive, more inspired, more myself. And until I meet someone who can bring that into my life, I’m perfectly content standing on my own. Because being true to myself and my needs is the most important thing I can do—not just for me, but for the future of any relationship I choose to invest in.