Alone but not lonely

I'm not entirely sure I believe in this "other half" business.
Why is it we're constantly fed the message that something is missing in our lives, something that can only be filled with the presence of another person?
I definitely believed in the other half at some point, as many of us do. I think it's normal that I felt complete with someone, or that what was missing was finally there.
But what was really missing is contentment with myself. I don't care who you are, if you're not happy with yourself, you can't be 100% happy even when you have the most amazing person ever right by your side.
When what we perceive as our "other half" is suddenly taken away from us, it hurts like hell. Worse than almost anything. (Fuck, I haven't been using "I" statements, have I?)
I need to learn how to enter a relationship as already whole and content with myself, because if I don't, it will hurt worse and worse the closer I cling onto that other half. But I'm living without that other half right now, aren't I?
We do crazy things out of the fear of being alone. Jumping into relationships that have warning signs we choose to ignore, before we're ready, before we've thought things through, before we've dealt with a different relationship...
I've been guilty of almost all of those things except for the last.
There is nothing wrong with being alone. But we get fed constant messages that there is. "When are you going to get married?" "Find singles in your area!" "Make it work!"
My position is a cynical one, and yet I'm happier than I've ever been.
Even when I've had wonderful partners, really close friends and whatnot, I feel more happier now than I ever was with them.
Why? Because I forced myself to look at myself, take care of myself, and understand that I've been me all along, without anyone to help me. Now, my true love could be standing right in front of me and I may not know it.
But I doubt it. True love begins with me.