The latest census data showed that 51% of women today are not married. Yep, the majority of us are unmarried - but for many different reasons...

Let's start with the fact that women are choosing to marry later than they used to... most women want to be more established in their careers and, thus, more financially independent than in the past. There are also a lot of women today - young or older - who truly see themselves as independent women who do not need a man to make them happy... they are perfectly happy without him and in fact, many of them even believe that he is likely to cramp their style and try to change them!

Then, there is the fact that after divorce or becoming a widow, the majority of women decide they like their second lease on life as a single, independent woman and do not want to start over with learning how to live with someone new.

While this is a story of choice and girl power, it is not always one of utter independence. Many woman today are choosing to live with their significant other for several years before deciding to get married (or not). More and more women of all ages are making this choice and making it for longer periods of time than ever in the past. Society has become more accepting of it and it seems like a natural progression based on the evolving beliefs in marriage.

Speaking of belief in marriage - well, I for one am not sure that it means a whole lot outside of the context of celebrating your love in front of your loved ones. My parents got divorced when I was seven years old. It was for many reasons but the straw that broke the camels back was that my dad had fallen in love with another woman and cheated on my mother. This is a story not only of my life but of so many others who are now making adult choices about relationships. It does not create a lot of trust around the institute of marriage. In fact, to the contrary, it is making us a lot more careful in who we choose as our life partners - married or not.

Whatever your choices in regards to singledom, marriage, children, etc., they are likely to effect your career. As a woman climbs the ladder to career success the most common things to slow her down are children and marriage. Children for obvious reasons - this is a life choice that you accept when you choose to bring a child into the world and should be a priority without question above all other things in your life... it is your responsibility (sorry for the preaching - just one woman's opinion). Marriage is liekly to effect your career as well because you no longer are one person making decisions - you have two to consider and likely he is a seeking a high-powered career as well. So whether that means that you interview for the job across the country or not, take the higher paying job that may lead to a shift in the relationship balance of power, or some other life altering change, you always have to make choices and in this case it involves another person. So, carefully consider every decision - life and career - as they will shape your tomorrow.

Power to the ladies! With all of these choices, we are responsible more today for our happiness than ever before so use this power to find fulfillment in all you do. I have been living this philosophy and have never been happier. Today I have been living with my boyfriend who I adore for four years, have chosen the high-powered career route into marketing, have decided that I prefer raising dogs to children , and have a little time still left to develop my new business Fashion-Hound.com, to spend with friends and family and even take some moments for myself a couple of times a week. Life is good but it is because I understand fully that I control my own destiny toward happiness. You can do the same!