When I'm in a relationship I masturbate regularly as a gift to myself. Every time you masturbate you're asserting your identity as a sexual person.
Masturbation is sex.
If you believe you're only being sexual when you're with a partner, you're missing out on an entirely satisfying, fulfilling aspect or your sexual self. Every time you masturbate you actively cast off those repressive attitudes about sex instilled in hyou by parents, teachers, friends, priests, aunts, uncles, counselors, therapists, politicians, and the media. You're celebrating your sexuality and practicing safe sex. I went to a Catholic school where the only sex education we ever received came from a nun one afternoon during the eighth grade.