Woman Shares Theory on Why Being Single Is a 'Luxury'—Internet Has Thoughts

Newsweek

5 days ago

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Being single is not a cause for tears and concern, but something to enjoy and celebrate—that is the message resonating with millions of viewers online after a TikTok creator's declaration about the "luxury" of single life went viral.
Relationship expert Tam Kaur (@tamkaur) told Newsweek that the creator's words count for more than just a fleeting sentiment.
"Being single is not a problem to be fixed," Kaur, who wrote Buy Yourself the Damn Flowers, said. "It is an opportunity to reconnect with yourself on the deepest level.
"So often, we place relationships on a pedestal because we are taught they will complete us, but the truth is, no one can complete you but you."
The short clip had been shared to TikTok by @onlinekeeks on March 3, and has since been viewed more than 1.1 million times. Viewers were able to see the creator look straight into the camera lens and make a bold case: "I just want to remind people that being single is a luxury, and you need to start treating it as that...You literally don't know when's the last day you're going to be single...You just need to enjoy this moment."
The message landed differently for different people. Some viewers agreed wholeheartedly, praising the sentiment as empowering. Others pushed back, pointing to the economic and emotional challenges often faced by those who live and move through the world alone. Several highlighted the fact that being coupled up in 2025 is rarely a prison sentence.
"[You are] not trapped though, you can leave a relationship whenever you want," one viewer said, while another added: "I love being single so much, I love doing my own things at my own pace."
From left: Tam Kaur poses for a headshot; and an abstract illustration of a woman walking along a cliff towards a sign with directions.
From left: Tam Kaur poses for a headshot; and an abstract illustration of a woman walking along a cliff towards a sign with directions.
@tamkaur / Getty Images
"Being single is a luxury," a third viewer shared. "Being in a relationship with someone who adds joy and uplifts is also a luxury.
"You should be whole in a relationship as well, it shouldn't feel like a burden, don't settle."
"Bro acting like it's not a choice to be in a relationship I'm so dead is this [for real] how [you all] look at it," a different viewer commented.
Another added: "I'm gonna be 25 and still never even held a man's hand romantically so I'm totally over these discussions, especially hearing it from people in relationships...Like okay be single with me if it's so great."
Kaur, a self-transformation coach and a 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, believes that such discomfort often arises from how society teaches people to view love.
"If you are feeling unfulfilled or lonely, it is not necessarily love you are craving, it is connection," Kaur, 24, said. "That might be intellectual stimulation, which you can find in a great book or an online group full of people who share your interests.
Person preparing bouquet of flowers
Person preparing bouquet of flowers"It might be affection, which you can nurture in deep friendships and intentional community, or maybe it is adventure, and there is so much joy in learning to explore the world on your own terms—without a partner."
The TikTok post ignited widespread commentary on the meaning of independence and fulfillment, with viewers debating what exactly makes singlehood a "luxury."
Some shared that it is the freedom to shape your days without compromise or negotiation. For others, it is the absence of societal obligations that often accompany coupledom—like caregiving or financial entanglement. But the notion is not universally accessible.
In many communities and cultures, single life—particularly for women—is neither embraced nor allowed. Living alone can be frowned upon, even shunned. In some countries, women who live alone, either by choice or by circumstance, face strict restrictions.
Even in the U.S. the experience of being single is not without difficulties. Housing costs are higher for single people, and many benefits—such as health insurance, tax credits, and social status—are tied to marriage.
From paying full rent alone to navigating social gatherings that prize romantic partnerships, single individuals often face a "singles tax," both financially and emotionally.
These dynamics have fueled both praise and criticism under @onlinekeeks' video. In comments beneath the post, some supporters celebrated the call to embrace singleness as a valid, joyful life stage. Others described the realities that make it challenging. For some, the pressure to couple up remains intense.
But Kaur, who is based in London, England, urges a different perspective—one rooted in self-trust and intentional living.
"Book that solo holiday, take yourself out to dinner, and become the love of your own life," she said. "I always say, the person you can trust most in this world is you, you are your own best friend, and your own soulmate.
"When we stop searching for someone else to rescue us and instead start building a life we genuinely love, that is when everything shifts."
Newsweek reached out to @onlinekeeks for more information via TikTok.
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