Why is it that each time we break up with someone (or someone breaks up with us), general advice tells us to "make sure we are happy being single, THEN find a new love"?

To put this nifty little piece of advice into a different context: would you tell someone who's just got the sack to make sure they are happy being unemployed before looking for a new job?

If someone loses a leg in an accident, is it a good idea to be happily legless before trying to walk again using prosthetics?

If we lose a friend, should we try being truly happy as Billy-no-mates before attempting to find new friends? And if we fall off a horse, isn't the general advice to get back on again as soon as possible?

So, if we realize that generally, people aren't very happy being on the dole, living with just one leg, having no friends or walking next to the horse, why does everyone assume one can be "happy being single"!?

People have jobs, legs, friends and partners for a reason!

No doubt, there will be the odd individual who manages to live a decent life sans jobs, legs and friends, being too scared to ride a horse,- but isn't life so much more fun WITH all of those things?

I refuse to be "happy single", as I would be far happier sharing nice and sad times with another person I truly love, and who truly loves and appreciates me.

However, there is always the small matter of the "grieving period" to worry about, but this can stretch out tediously long. After all, rather than sitting around moping after being made redundant it is far more constructive to go out to a few job interviews.