Count Me Out This Cuffing Season

By Blaize Stewart

December 28, 2017

Share

Donate

Photo credit: Unsplash/Sanka Maleesh Dedigama

Every year, when the weather turns from the sun-soaked summer into the blustery, frigid winter, it seems that all the single people of the world race to find a partner to keep them warm through the colder months. This phenomenon is commonly known as cuffing season; a time when those who are otherwise content with being single are struck by the urge to cut themselves a little slice of that monogamous bliss. It could be the holidays, or it could just be that they want to save on their heating bill by cuddling up next to a warm body; whatever the reason, it’s a recurring phenomenon that has always baffled me.

A man and a woman laying on the snow side by side look to eachother and smile.
istock/Maridav

Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not anti-relationship, anti-monogamy, or anti-romance… I just don’t see the point of jumping into a relationship just because everyone else is doing it or because it’s “that time of year”.

I’m by no means a dating expert; I’m 25 years old and have never been in a serious or long-term relationship. I’ve dated casually, done the whole “we’re just hanging out” bit, and had a few people I’ve thought about pursuing something more serious with, but for whatever reason, none of it has ever culminated in that official, monogamous relationship. I’m 100% content with that.

I’m content because, for the time being, the only person I really have to worry about taking care of is myself (which is a daunting task in itself). My life is a perpetual state of chaos, and quite frankly, I don’t have the time or inclination to include anyone else in the mix right now.

An asian man looks down on his phone while riding the subway and with headphones.
Bigstock/twinsterphoto

I think it could be because of the way I view relationships. My parents, former high school sweethearts, have been married for close to 30 years, and what I’ve learned from them about relationships is that they take sacrifice. They’re always putting the needs of my siblings and each other ahead of their own personal wants; that’s part of how their marriage has lasted all of these years.

Right now, as I try to land a stable job and navigate city life, I don’t have any desire to bring someone else’s feelings into the mix. Some might say that is selfish, but I think it’s better to be upfront and honest about the fact that, right now, the only person I want to have to worry about is me. What’s the point of starting something if you already have an expiration date in mind?

Maybe someone will come along soon that will change my tune, but I’m certainly not going to let the temperature change determine when that person will come into my life, and I’ll always find it strange that people couple up just because the winter months are upon us.

A black woman sits on her couch watching tv and laughing hugging a pillow.
Bigstock/Rido81

However, for those of you who do get caught up in cuffing season, I wish you all the best and hope that your relationship winds up being more than just a seasonal fling. I guess the only way to know what the future holds for these relationships is to wait to see what the summer months, or the prime time to be single, brings.

Comments

Facebook Comments