Since I've sworn off dating for a bit, it seems as if a huge wave of relief has washed over me. I hadn't realized before how stressful dating has been for me. Up until now, I hadn't realized that I'd been trying to fill a void — a big gaping hole left by Levi — with other men. The one word that pretty much sums it all up: rebound.

Shit. For all of the progress that I've been making, I've only just realized that I've been on the rebound for a year.

Oh, well. Better late than never.

So, here's the good news about not dating.

I seem to have an endless amount of time. Before, I was always scrambling to get things done and now although I still scramble somewhat, the rush has been taken down several notches; and for that, I am extremely grateful.

With all of that extra time, I've found several more hours to play with my boy. He's my greatest love, and there is nothing that gives me as much joy as simply playing with him.

There's no drama. This is a huge one. No discussing men with my friends, no fretting over missed or non-existent phone calls. No trying to decipher what he "actually means." No trying to figure out the rules of the latest dating "game." Just simplicity. Boy, did I need that!

And finally, and perhaps the biggest perk, I don't have to trouble myself with such things as shaving. Yeah shaving, I've discovered, is really optional if you're not dating. An option I've been exercising quite well. So well, in fact, that when I lifted my arms up above my head this morning, my jaw dropped. I didn't know I could even grow that much hair under there!

(Confession: I quickly shaved. Perhaps I should modify this perk from no shaving to shaving less often.)