Have you ever gone to a restaurant or event and encountered someone there all by themselves? Did you end up judging them or thinking they were weird for being there alone? Don’t be shy… we all do this in some form, whether intentionally or not. So many people think that you cannot have a good time if you go out alone. For some reason, even the thought of doing something like this scares them so much that they would rather stay in and order take out. Why is this and where did this misconception come from?
Well, we can probably put a lot of blame for this stereotype on the so called ‘norms’ of society, especially since so many of the messages they try to convince us of make people seem like a failure if they do things not normal – or anything fun alone. We are bombarded with various kinds of messages that try to get us to act and think a certain way. Sadly, people have become extremely judgmental because of this, and wrongfully so. That’s why thinking for yourself and developing your own opinions is more important than ever.
As an avid traveler, eating by myself or going to some event solo does not phase me anymore. Contrarily, I quite often long for times when I can be alone because this is a great time to recharge. Do I still feel awkward from time to time? Of course! Does that stop me from going out and enjoying myself? Heck no! Life is too short to live in a bubble, that’s why seizing every moment you have is so very important. As you continue to go through various experiences, you develop a better understanding and perspective of the world. You will learn how beautiful life really is and that it’s meant to be enjoyed doing things, despite how much the media wants to scare you.
You may be thinking that doing something like this sounds great, but there is still that little voice inside your head holding you back – but don’t let it! Here are some steps you can take right now to enjoy a meal solo:
- For starters, sit at the bar – the bartender is getting paid to be nice to you. Even if your interactions may be somewhat forced at first, this is a great starting point to learn some small talk that will help you start up conversations in the future. Heck, so many people end up becoming good friends with bartenders!
- If you want to strike up a conversation with someone, sitting at the bar is great due to the numerous topics built in to the environment. You can talk about whatever’s on TV, asking them their thoughts/opinions of something. Ask them how their food/beverage is and if they have any recommendations. Just look around – something will pop into your head!
- Do an experiment – reserve a table by yourself, then sit back and observe. Is anyone staring or pointing fingers at you? Most likely not. They are all out, doing their own thing. They could care less that you are alone because they want to enjoy their time, just like you. They don’t let what other people think ruin a good time.
Going out to eat solo doesn’t have to be scary. There are too many opportunities in life to give up on the experience simply because you have no one to join you. The next time you want to try a new restaurant but don’t have anyone that can go with you, take the leap and check the place out by yourself. The more you get outside your comfort zone, the easier things will get. Heck, you will probably even notice more people do this than you previously thought!
