Dining Alone: It's Really Not So Scary

The question was raised this week whether I'd ever eaten anywhere alone (not at home). And the answer is "yes". I have eaten alone and not just as a single girl.

To be honest, I think I've eaten alone more times while in my last relationship than I do now. Now I have my family and girlfriends to dine out with, and I don't have plans, I eat at home. Occasionally for lunch do I eat alone. But then, I do out of necessity. Sometimes you just need alone time, especially when you work in a five person office the size of your bedroom. That's just what happens when your staff grows faster than the physical office. It's not a bad thing; we are busy. Good thing we all get along so well.

But as I get older, I think I value my "me time" more and more. I don't feel like my world stops when I'm by myself. And I certainly don't feel awkward about eating alone in public.

I do sort of have one guideline, which is if I am at a restaurant with a bar, I always opt to sit there over taking up a table. I patronize the bartender; I don't waste the servers' time with my party of one. These people rely on tips to live.

I sit here at Central Market thinking about the different occasions I've dined alone and how it really isn't embarrassing like I once thought. When I was much younger, I thought being alone meant that people would think I didn't have any friends or that something was wrong with me, even  if I did and even if there wasn't. But today I'm sitting alone as I write this. I am sitting at a table by the Roburrito's truck because I just ate a Burritodilla. Yum. Before that, I was sitting alone at the Jr.'s Fries counter eating fried pickles (which I recommend). But I don't feel like people are staring or judging. And I suppose if they are, then screw them. I don't have time to worry about that.  Everyone needs their alone time and I guess I'm just happy to have mine with some good food.

Hello, 2013!

2012 was definitely an adventure for me. I enjoyed having many new experiences like changing jobs, gaining new friends, visiting Vegas for the first time, getting into better shape, and moving into my own place.

I've also been through some more difficult times but always try to keep in mind I can learn something from everything. I tend to believe things happen for a reason, although the reasons do not always present themselves to us  in the most digestible and visible ways. We don't always like the things that happen and we don't always want to learn the lessons. But the thing is that we don't have control over everything that happens in our lives, but we do have the choice to learn the lessons and become a better person or ignore the lessons and continue to make the same mistakes.

So what do you want out of 2013?

I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions. I think they are dumb because January 1st isn't the only time to start something new or make decisions about improving your life. But I do believe it is a good time to reflect on your life and what you want. There is something about a new year that is refreshing, a new start. Not only that, but there is a feeling of leaving things behind from the old year, moving forward, accepting your mistakes as mistakes, and putting those sad, angry or embarrassing moments behind you.

So what do I want?

• I want to make the most out of having my own place for the very first time in my life.

• I want to write more. I always say I'd like to, and I never make the time for it, but that is about enough of that. No more excuses. As a blogger, I don't consider myself an actual "writer". I have plenty of English major and Journalism friends who are very talented, and I am in no way near the writer any of them are.

• I want to make decisions about my life. Not decisions about if I want regular or decaf coffee or Sheetz vs. Rutters. I want to make decisions about what I want and what is important to me to be genuinely happy and content with my life.

• I want to master cooking for one.

This post wasn't about food or cooking or recipes for my favorite dessert. But I think it is nice to share a little about myself every so often. Maybe it will help you identify with me and bring you back to reading more often (as long as I keep writing).