Carolyn Hax: Alone, you can see need for another

Hi, Carolyn: I keep hearing you shouldn’t be in a relationship unless you’re perfectly happy without one. But if you’re totally happy being alone, why would you ever want to be in a relationship? I’m not being facetious; I really don’t get it. Relationships are hard work, and they require a lot of selflessness. – Pennsylvania

On the happy-alone part: You can be perfectly happy with your sandwich and chips, but still feel lucky when someone says, “I have an extra cookie – want it?”

On the hard-work- and-selflessness part: Getting the cookie can move you to say, “Would you like some chips?” even though they’re your favorite chips.

This is profoundly easier to execute, obviously, when it involves chips and cookies versus hometowns, family, faith, life visions and goals, careers, sex, money, ideals, health, dignity, and everything else that gets thrown into the hopper of coupled life.

But while the execution gets complicated, the concept stays the same: When you’re complete without someone, you’re in a better position to see whether a partner enhances your happy life or weighs it down. When you have a void to fill, it’s hard to be that selective.

When someone enhances your life, by definition the sacrifices you make are for something you want even more. And when your favorite chips sound better than the offered cookie, then your basic “No, thank you” will do.

The problem is when you feel the ache for something else despite a dedicated effort to live your life on your terms. Loneliness for companionship isn’t just a switch you flip off when you want.