あなたがもし今までに、自分はどうして独り身なんだろうと考えたことがあれば（ほとんど皆がどこかの時点で考えたことがあると思うのだけれど）、見方を変えてみるべきかもしれない。
ある70歳のインドの女性が、なぜ恋人がいないのか（いなければいけないなんてことは全くないのだけれど）を説明した答えが素晴らしい。
ムンバイで暮らす人々の姿を映した「ヒューマンズ・オブ・ボンベイ」のインスタグラムでは、この女性の言葉を含む投稿に2千以上の「いいね」が押されている。その写真の説明文はこうだ。
「私は70歳で、働いていて、幸せで、そしてまだ結婚していません」。
「何か特別な理由があるのですか？」
「特別だと思える男性に出会っていないからです...今はまだね」。
独身でいることについて特に何か理由があるのかと尋ねられると、この女性は完璧な答えを返した。「特別だと思える男性に出会っていないからです...今はまだね」。
このシンプルなメッセージがはっきりと気づかせてくれるのは、自尊心や自分の中の基準を守ることが幸せの秘訣なのではないか、ということだ。
この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。
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![1. いつでも抱き合って仲良くしましょう]()
"I've never seen a photo of my grandparents where they weren't embracing -- whether it was when they were dating, had five kids under age 8, or just before my grandfather died of cancer. I couldn't wait to grow up and have what they had with someone. They were a real life fairy tale." - Cari Watts-Savage
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![2. すべてに同意する必要はありません]()
"My grandparents were married for 65 years until my grandma passed away last summer. Opposite religions, opposite politics and they still made it work. I have a lot to live up to!" - Clare Dych
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![3. 年の差は関係ありません]()
"I asked my grandma why she married my grandpa who she only dated for one year when she was 18 and he was 31. She answered me, 'Why not? He was hot back then!' My grandparents weren't the lovey-dovey type and actually distant, I think, due to the 13-year age gap. But they didn't bail, they're faithful, they kept each other for better or worse, in sickness and health, through thick and thin." - Tze Tonn Ng
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![4. 一緒なら、なんだってできます]()
"After 40 years of smoking five packs of cigarettes a day together, they decided to quit with no outside help. And they did. Together." - Michelle Brown
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![5. 「結婚はとても大切なものだ」と考えるようにしましょう]()
"When I got married, my grandmother and grandfather had been married some 68 years. My grandmother gave me her blessings and told me that if I got married, I had to stay married and it was a lifetime commitment." - Leslie Johnson
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![6. あなたを笑わせてくれる人と一緒になりなさい]()
"My grandparents were always teasing each other. We all got such a kick out of it growing up, hanging out in their kitchen and listening to them when we were over there for dinner. But it also showed us how important it is to be with someone that you'll have fun with, no matter what life may throw at you." - Kristen Girone
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![7. いつまでもいちゃつくのをやめないように]()
"Pinch butts." - Sarah Hosseini
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![8. 結婚生活には思ってもいなかったような展開があるかもしれません]()
"My grandparents very much conformed to regular gender roles my entire childhood, but when my grandmom got sick, it was amazing to see my granddad taking care of her and cooking and cleaning. They really proved to me that true love lasts a lifetime and that marriage can last 'until death do you part.'" - Carrie Burke
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![9. おやすみなさいやありがとう。ちょっとした時にキスするのを忘れないで]()
"My maternal grandparents always kiss and say 'I love you' before they leave and it's the first thing they do when they come together again -- whether it's a run to the grocery store or a full day's work." - J. Williams
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![10. 想像もしていなかったような人と恋に落ちるかも]()
"I learned that love is unexpected, and anyone can fall in love, even if the relationship is shunned by society. Their love was somewhat reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet in the sense that they were both on different sides of society, but fell in love and had to keep their relationship secret at first." - Carter Garcia-Kimura
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![11. 小さな出来事にも喜びを感じるようにしましょう]()
"They found joy in sharing the details of daily living. Always smiling, even when doing the weekly budget or grandma peeling a banana for grandpa because she knew he didn't like the feel of it." - Kristen Van Orden
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![12. 毎日が順調ではなくてもいいんです]()
"You don't have to like each other every day." - Nicole Snyder
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![13. 結婚生活を長続きさせるには、お互いの努力と歩み寄りが必要]()
"They divorced after three kids and nearly 40 years of marriage, but my grandmother has always told me: A relationship will never work unless [both people] want it to." - Mina Barnett
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![14. 初恋の人が一番素敵だとは限りません]()
"You might not get things right the first time, but you can't give up because it could be the second time that you find true happiness. My grandparents have been together for 25 years and although my grandpa is not my biological one, he is the best thing to happen to our family and I could not love him more." - Natasha Baker-Streit
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![15. 自分が大好きなことは、ずっと続けましょう]()
"They share a sense of humor and make it a priority to do things they enjoy together, even though that has become harder for them with age." - Theresa Kelliher
【関連記事】ハフィントンポスト日本版はTwitterでも情報発信しています。