Go Forth (Solo) and Conquer

August 26, 2015

I just saw a segment on The Today Show about how dining alone at restaurants is on the rise, and whether or not that’s good for you. What fascinates me is that dining alone is even news-worthy. Do people really deny themselves good food because they don’t have anybody to go to a restaurant with? Wow!

(I admit that this is less of a social statement on my part as it is my pure oblivion to social norms. I honestly never knew that there was a stigma associated with dining alone. It’s not rebellion, it’s common sense: If you want to go out to eat, go out to eat.)

It reminds me of all the times people have said, “I wanted to go to (whatever), but couldn’t get my spouse (or anybody) to go with me.” Again—Wow! I’ve said that sometimes, about things that involve driving—I’m a driving wimp; but I’ve never not gone to the ballet, or a movie, or a folk festival, or bowling because nobody would go with me. I’d be missing a heck of a lot.

So, do people not go because they don’t want to be lonely (as opposed to staying home alone—what’s the dif?), or because they think that they “should” have somebody with them? Is it societal expectations that keep them home?

It’s downright distressing to think that so many people may be denying themselves so much fun because other people have made them think that it’s weird to go places alone.

Can it be lonely? Ohhh, yeah. Worse than staying home, or worse than dragging along somebody who’s going to gripe the whole time because they don’t want to be there? Hell, no!

So Go Forth (Solo) and Conquer!

(Readers: If  you’ve ever done something solo, either just once or whenever you have to, let me know how you liked it. Would  you rather have been there or stayed home? And if you don’t go to events because you don’t want to go alone, let me know how that’s working out for you. Or at least reconsider.)

September 8, 2024

Today I read an article that said some restaurants are actually taking steps to make solo diners feel comfortable. Apparently, they’re realizing that solo people are paying customers, too. And solo dining is still on the rise, so it behooves them to adapt their business models accordingly. It seems like a long time coming, but at least they’re coming around.

Well, hallelujah!