The Fable of the Happy Single

March 05, 2019 by Cazey Williams in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Dating, Cazey's Column

In late high school, I discovered the value of independence and began to expound its virtue in every facet of my life. Even when I dallied in an extended romance mid-college, I never considered bounding it by such terms as “relationship” or “love” (“low self-esteem” and “self-destructive” would’ve been more apt terms honestly).

Since college, I hadn’t even looked to date. A few years ago, I went on a handful dates to prove probably to myself and friends I could date if I wanted to. I found minimal enjoyment in sharing drinks with strangers I really didn’t care to see again, so I gave that business up fast. I aggressively defended my monk life to family members over the holidays.

Losing My Immunity To Love

September 11, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Life In Your 20's, Cazey's Column, life lessons

For the last five years, I haven’t liked anyone. I used to not believe myself when I said that. I wondered if I was lying, had I forgotten someone, or was I repressing something. Then this past winter I met someone. I experienced a month of dates, snuggles, hand holding, and whispering secrets I don’t even share with best friends. The contrast in feelings proved to me I hadn’t been lying: I hadn’t liked anyone for half a decade.

And suddenly I did.

Due to a host of reasons, some inevitable and some that I will save for future blogpost rants, things ended. The fracture came abruptly. It took my breath away. We briefly rekindled what may be called a sequel or a spinoff, but like most sequels, it flopped.

Can You Be Too Independent?

June 01, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

Adolescent me is a stark contrast from today me. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Most people change between middle school and adulthood. Theoretically, we get taller. We lose the acne. We get jobs. (Or you don’t and you go to grad school and prolong a miserable academic existence. Just kidding. Or am I?)

However, my personality has changed more dramatically than my comlexion. And not in a Charmander becomes Charzard way (that was a Pokémon reference for those of you didn’t collect cards in second grade). I more was like a Charmander who became Wartortle (don’t worry, I had to Wikipedia the evolution of Pokémon to make that joke).

Growing up, I was the sensitive bookworm. I wore glasses, read Peter Benchley novels, and kept my heart on my chewed-up sleeve (I teethed a lot in third grade). I hid behind my parents’ legs when confronted by strangers. I also ate a lot of cookies (okay, I was morbidly obese; I’m not even joking). And “leader” was the last thing a teacher would write on my report card.

Oh, It's the Single Life for Me

January 20, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Life In Your 20's, Cazey's Column, life lessons, Humor

A common plot gimmick in rom-coms is to show flashbacks of the story’s protagonist where some virtue is asserted that is integral to the character’s arc. Today we reflect on four-year-old Cazey dashing home in tears from his best friend Maggie’s house.

My mom asks, “What’s wrong?”

Young me wails, “Maggie says I have to marry her when I grow up! I don’t want to!”