Being single can certainly sound like a lot of fun. You learn a lot about yourself, push yourself out of your comfort zone and get to meet more people. As captain, you alone control your speed and direction. However, nothing compares to having that special someone to cuddle with after a long day. Being on your own again is scary, but, as the genius How I Met Your Mother characters profess, it also makes room for new opportunities to arise.
Here are 21 How I Met Your Mother quotes for when you’re in that single slump.
1.“Whenever I’m sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.” —Barney
“Understand what you deserve,” junior at University of Florida Lisa Blanket said. Maybe you need a moment to wallow in your feelings while listening to Adele and eating a bucket of ice cream. But when that moment ends, remember to get back up and start your day fresh. Remember your strength, worth and goals; and go chase that dream.
2. “You will be shocked, kids, when you discover how easy it is in life to part ways with people forever. That’s why, when you find someone you want to keep around, you do something about it.” —Ted
My parents have been married for 25 years and they still refer to each other as their “best friend.” And while they got their happily ever after, they went through a lot to find each other. Keep the good people in your life close by and don’t take them for granted. Life is too hard to go through it alone.
3. “If you keep giving up on people so quickly, you’re gonna miss out on something great.” —Robin
Maybe you experienced a rough breakup and feel skeptical about getting back into a relationship. (Hey, I’ve been there!) Don’t lose hope. The chances of finding someone just like your ex are so slim, and you don’t want to miss out on something great because of fear. Sometimes the risks we make end up being the best choices.
4. “I realized that I’m searching, searching for what I really want in life. And you know what? I have absolutely no idea what that is.” —Barney
Self-love is the best love. “Love yourself before you love someone else. Use the time that you’re single to do what you want and learn more about yourself without having someone there to weigh you down,” junior at the University of Florida Lindsay McKishnie said. It is easy to dwell on being “forever alone” when it seems like everyone posts couple pictures on Instagram except for you. But really, what’s wrong with being single? Being single gives you the chance to find yourself again and experience things for yourself and not for someone else.
5. “If you’re not scared then you’re not taking a chance. And if you’re not taking a chance, then what the hell are you doing anyway?” —Ted
Let’s face it, his dramatic romantic “gestures” make Ted Mosby famous. Remember when he stole the blue French horn from the restaurant he and Robin went to on their first date? While some call it “crazy” he calls it “brave.” Be “brave” because your own Ted Mosby awaits.
6. “The future is scary, but you can’t just run back to the past because it’s familiar. Yes it’s tempting, but it’s a mistake.” —Robin
To all my single girls out there, when has getting back with an ex ever really been a good thing? Maybe two-percent of the time? And if that two-percent is you, then I applaud you. But remember, going through the breakup once is better than having to do it twice. Comfortable rarely ever means better.
7. “Shouldn’t we hold out for the person who doesn’t just tolerate our little quirks but actually kinda likes them?” —Ted
Often times, in the beginning of a relationship we try really hard to impress that person and make sure to hide our weird quirks. But then they find out our weird quirks anyways and end up loving us for it. Anyone who makes you feel less than who you are, or that the way you are isn’t good enough, isn’t good enough for you. Single is better. When you work on just being you, the right person will come.
8. “I used to be in such a hurry all the time. Everything was so urgent. Now I figure, if it’s going to happen, it’ll happen when it happens. I’m not going anywhere; she’s not going anywhere. What’s the rush, right?” —Ted
But seriously, what’s the rush? Don’t stress about getting the perfect guy or being in a relationship like all of your friends. It’ll happen in good time. Until then, go out, kiss cute boys and have fun being single.
9. “Love is totally nonsensical. But we have to keep doing it or else we’re lost and love is dead, and humanity should just pack it in. Because love is the best thing we do.” —Ted
To all the love skeptics out there: whether you’ll admit it or not, love always wins. It may hurt like a b*tch at times, but it’s also a beautiful thing. Love separates humans from a robot, or other technological advancement. Those warm and fuzzy feelings make us feel the most alive.
10. “That’s life, you know, we never end up where you thought you wanted to be.” —Marshall
Being single gives you and an endless amount of opportunities. Just think, someone out there in the world hopes to one day complete his or her life by being with you forever. So, until then, work on becoming the best version of yourself so that when that time comes you’ll be ready for that special someone.
11. “We’re going to get older, whether we like it or not, so the only question is whether we get on with our lives or desperately cling to the past.” —Ted
Moving on is hard. But what makes it easier? Looking at the future you want and making the choices that’ll lead you there. “To me, the most important part in getting out of a relationship is the chance to take everything that you learned with you. The people I’ve dated have made a very positive impact in my life, even if I didn’t’ realize it at the time of the breakup. They’ve helped me grow so much as an individual, and being single gives way to the opportunity of taking that growth an channeling it onto your new dating life,” senior at the University of Florida Joryan Hernandez said. Don’t let that boy drag you down. You got this.
12. “Look, you can’t design your life like a building. It doesn’t work that way. You just have to live it and it’ll design itself.” —Lily
If go-with-the-flow isn’t you, I get it. It isn’t me either. But at the end of the day, you can’t control everything in life. It’s crazy how when you let go, you see everything just fall into place.
13. “Sometimes we search for one thing but discover another.” —Barney
The thing—whether it’s a person or goal or place—you’ve so strongly been desiring may not always feel the way you expected to feel once you have it. Keep your perspective wide, because maybe you’ll find something even better along the way trying to find something else.
14. “You can’t just skip ahead to where you think your life should be.” — Lily
Focus on the NOW and the rest will come. Think back to what your life was like four years ago. Most likely, you had a few friends you don’t have now; met some people that have changed your world; faced challenges you didn’t think would come your way and have found yourself in a place you never imagined yourself at. Who knows what’ll come next. Regardless, you can’t control the past and you can’t control future. Focus on what you’ll do at this very moment that’ll help you achieve your goals.
15. “Guys are like the subway. You miss one, another comes along in five minutes. Unless it’s the end of the night, and then you get on anything.” — Robin
This quote never fails to make me laugh. It literally translates to, “There are more fish in the sea.” You aren’t “forever alone.” When one guy leaves, another will come. And maybe a guy isn’t something you necessarily “find,” but rather something that comes together naturally on its own.
16. “So really the biggest mistake would be not to make that mistake, because then you’ll go your whole life not knowing if something was a mistake or not.” —Lily
At the end of every relationship, people tend to dwell on what they should’ve or shouldn’t have done. Let me tell you, it’s just not worth it! It’s a learning process. So, take what you’ve learned and save it for your next relationship.
17. “Sometimes things have to fall apart to make way for better things.” —Ted
I think that says it all, doesn’t it? When it seems like everything is falling apart, just remember that this a chance to grow exists. Challenges make us better and they teach us a thing or two along the way.
18. “The good things will always be here waiting for you.” – Lily
In every storm, an initial downpour leaves its mark. Then the sky glows with lightning just before the thunder cracks. It’s totally magnificent, but terrifying all at once. It reminds me of adulting. But, remember, there’s a rainbow waiting to shine through at the end of every storm.
19. “The great moments of your life won’t necessarily be the things you do, they’ll also be the things that happen to you… You see, the universe has a plan, kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings and it starts to rain. It’s a scary thought, but it’s also kind of wonderful. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you’re supposed to be, exactly when you’re supposed to be there. The right place at the right time.” —Ted Mosby
Guilt and regret plague this world as the most toxic things you can fill your mind with. No matter where you find yourself right at this very moment, it’s probably exactly where you belong right now. So, don’t dwell on where you think you “should” be in life. Life constantly moves and nothing ever stays the same. One moment, you may feel at your lowest low, but you have no idea the highs you‘ll experience in the near future. And while some might find that rather terrifying, let it excite you instead.
20. “If you’re really honest with yourself about what you want out of life, life gives it to you.” —Ted Mosby
No matter the relationship status, being honest about what you want out of life and not letting anyone take that away from you is a kind of strength people don’t talk enough about. Defending your character and the dreams you set for yourself will essentially lead you to the life you deserve.
21. “Whatever you do in this life, it is not legendary unless your friends are there to see it.” —Barney
Going single doesn’t equate to loneliness. You don’t need a boyfriend, but you do need your friends. Keep your friends close because no achievement is worth anything if your crew isn’t there to share that moment with you.
