Woman over 35 asks how to be content as a single lady and countless milennial women opened up

Sharing personal experiences can sometimes lead to unexpected connections, especially for women navigating similar journeys. That’s exactly what happened with 37-year-old Marisha Gupta—who goes by @marisharani_ on TikTok—when she posed a heartfelt question to her audience. In a candid video, Gupta opened up about her experience as a single woman and sought advice on embracing contentment. She began by acknowledging the vulnerability of her post, saying, “I debated if I even wanted to make this TikTok, as it’s somewhat vulnerable to me and kind of hard to really get my feelings across.”

Gupta shared that she had been single for about five years, navigating shorter relationships that lasted only a few months. Reflecting on her journey, she said, "I've been in therapy for years. I truly, truly love myself, so I don't want people to be like, 'Work on yourself' or 'Become like, love yourself.' Like, I'm very hyper-independent." Being an only child had taught her to enjoy her own company. "I had to learn to love being by myself and loving who I am," she explained. She also spoke about how much she valued her independence, particularly solo traveling. "It's liberating," Gupta said, encouraging others to embrace the experience.

Despite her strong sense of self, Gupta admitted that the longing for companionship remained. "At the end of the day, I yearn for a companion. I yearn for a romantic partner," she said. She described it as the missing piece of a puzzle by saying, "I could be having the best day and still, being the most positive, loving myself, whatever hoopla, and still there's something missing." Gupta wanted to know how others in similar situations found contentment. "For people that are 35, probably more so women 35+ who, you know, they're just content being single—how?" she asked. "What was your clicking moment where you said, 'I'm good if it happens, but I'm not going to yearn for it anymore?'"

Her question resonated deeply with viewers, who flooded the comments with their thoughts. Many offered advice or shared their own experiences. @dear_dra.111 wrote, "It's really not that hard. I don't know anyone with a relationship I envy. Not one. I think that speaks volumes. I. Choose. Peace. 10 years single.” @rodsyl shared, "I feel like the more you love yourself, the harder it becomes to find a partner because you refuse to settle for less than you deserve. I'd rather have days I yearn for love than settling/[being] unhappy with someone." @Garrett said, "For me it's kinda like being lactose intolerant but loving ice cream. Sure, I yearn for ice cream, but realizing what happens at the end of that yearning makes me realize it's not worth it."

Gupta later told Newsweek that the support she received on the internet was both unexpected and impactful. "The support from the audience impacted my perspective a lot. Mainly, in not feeling alone, which is a consistent feeling for me," she said. She admitted that seeing couples around her often creates an "echo chamber," where it feels like no one else understands what she's going through. "I often think no one else must feel this way or understand. I was proven wrong," she added.

You can follow Marisha Gupta (@marisharani_) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.