breakinglight11 | Table for one (Reply)

I dined out alone the other night. While I often go out alone, rarely do I ever have dinner in a sit down restaurant by myself. It's not really the culture of such places, they're always vaguely surprised when you walk in and hold up just one finger at the host.

There are episodes of Frasier and Sex and the City that suggest that dining out alone is one of the most unpleasant things a person can do, as if it's supposed to be an indicator of abject pathos. But I found it to be completely relaxing. As an introvert I recharge by being alone, and the restaurant provided a quiet, comfortable atmosphere where I could do so while getting a bite without having to cook or clean. Nobody gave me a second glance; certainly nobody whispered or looked askance in pity the way TV shows would have you believe. I sat by the window and watched the crowds go by, and played with my phone as I ate. A woman nearby was wearing Opium, a scent I associate with my mother. The waiter smiled at me, in the way strangers smile at you when they think you're pretty. With the amount of tension I've been carrying around, it was nice to find the experience so relaxing. For budgetary reasons I don't go out to eat very often, but if I can swing it, it might be nice to do it alone every once in a while.