1.我喜欢这礼物

Ah, the holidays: A time to reconnect with family, give selflessly to others ... and withstand the flood of ads depicting couples cuddling by the fire as they swap diamond bracelets and luxury car keys.
嗯，节日，是一个和家人团聚的、将无私奉献送给别人的时间……还有，你还得忍受着这些播放无数次的广告：夫妻俩在火炉旁拥抱在一起，互相交换着钻石手镯和名车车匙。

Instead of feeling down on yourself the next time Grandma asks you when you are going to give her great grandchildren, why not focus on why it's sweet to be single over the holidays?
当你的奶奶问你啥时候能让她抱孙子，你听了肯定会很沮丧。与其沮丧，还不如好好想想如何让单身的自己好好过节。

1. "I LOVE IT, REALLY!"
“我喜欢这礼物，真的”

When you're single, you don't have to agonize over picking out that perfect, relationship-stage-appropriate gift, feel guilty because your boyfriend got you a watch when you got him socks (or -- the horror -- vice-versa) or put on a fake smile as you wear that oversized wool sweater he bought you that makes you feel like an itchy blob.
当你还是单身，你不会因要挑选完美合适的礼物而感到苦恼，不需因男友送你一个手表而你送他一双袜子而内疚（额，情况要是反过来也很恐怖），也不必穿上男友买的、弄得你像一个红肿小点的超大型羊毛衣。

2.无需权衡

2. No Trade-Offs
不需权衡

You don't have to fight over where to spend the holidays. Miss the sister you never see? Want more time with Mom and Dad, especially now that they're getting older? Instead of splitting your days off between a partner's family and yours, you can focus on reconnecting with the people who raised you.
你不需为过节的地点而纠结。想念你那好久没见的姐妹？想和爸妈的时间多一些，特别是在他们不断老去的日子？单身的你不需要把时间分给丈夫家和你家，你只需把全部的时间贡献给养育你的家人。

3.去旅游

3. Travel To A Place You Actually Want To Visit
去一个你真正想去的地方旅游

Instead of spending your hard-earned cash on a trip to Florida to visit the in-laws, take that travel money (and the money you would have spent on gift and dinners and little things in between) and spend it on travel with friends. I have a group of friends who visit a different country together every winter and they love it.
你不必花你的辛苦钱去弗罗里达洲探望你的夫家（还有，你会在礼物、餐饮和其他的一些小物品上花钱），你可以拿着这笔钱，和朋友周游世界。在每年冬天，我都会和一帮朋友去不同的国家旅游，而且我们非常享受这些旅程。

If you can't splurge on airfare, consider a more local road trip. Have friends from Portland, Annapolis, Savannah or Santa Fe? The holidays might be a good time to pay them a visit.
如果你不想在机票上花大钱，那你可以考虑考虑美国的各城市游。你有一些波特兰、安纳波利斯、沙凡那港市和圣达菲的朋友？那这些节日就是去他们家城市旅游的最佳时间。

4.买礼物

4. No Waiting For Santa
想要的礼物不用等别人送

Instead of dropping hints to get that gift you've been eyeing, you can get it yourself, especially since you don't have to spend money on a gift for your partner. Bonus: that new iPad or pair of earrings will never remind you of an ex.
现在，你不必为你看上眼的礼物向某人打眼色，特别当你不需要花钱买礼物给你的伴侣，那你就可以买礼物给自己。好处是：新的iPad和耳环不会让你想起你的前任。

5.开派对

5. It's Your Party And You'll Invite Who You Want To
开自己的派对，请自己的朋友

In addition to all of the holiday parties you'll be attending, this is a great time to host your own. You can invite your favorite people (no need to worry about his friends getting along with yours), have them bring guests, meet new people and flirt with abandon.
除了参加别人的节日派对，你可以开一个属于自己的派对。在你自己的派对，你可以请一些你喜欢的人（不必担心他的朋友和自己的朋友玩不来），让他们自己带些朋友，而你也能多认识新朋友，还可以和其他人调调情并甩了他。

6.听歌

6. You Can Listen And Sing Along To All The Mariah Carey/Bing Crosby/Cheesy Holiday Music You Want
你想要的玛丽亚·凯莉、平·克劳和斯所有俗气的假日歌曲，都可以听，都可以唱

Admit it. Belting out "All I Want For Christmas" is one of the more satisfying parts of the holidays. This year you don't have to worry about anyone groaning or turning down the volume.
你就承认了吧，高唱那些经典歌曲是节日里最让人心满意足的部分。在今年，你不必担心某人会呻吟或是把音量调低。

7.不用讨好家长

7. No Parents To Impress!
要给夫家留下深刻印象？不必了！

Instead of worrying about what his parents or sister will think of you, you can skip the holiday superwoman routine and enjoy being yourself. This is a chance to spend time with your family and friends, the people who already know and love the real you.
不必再担心夫家的父母和姐妹是怎样看待你，你可以跳出这例行的节日女超人行列，在节日里好好享受。这是一个和家人朋友过节的机会，而家人朋友正是那些熟悉你、了解你的人。

8.给予关怀

8. Use Your Time To Take On More Important Things
利用自己的时间去承担更多重要的东西

There are people in the world who have more to worry about than finding a date to your boss' Christmas party. Look up volunteer opportunities in your area and spend the holidays bringing cheer to those who really need it.
与其参加你老板的圣诞派对，还不如给世界上最需要你关心的人多一些关怀。在你所在的区域，你可以找一些成为志愿者的机会，与那些真正有需要的人分享你的节日，为他们带来鼓励。