POLL: Would You Go To Dinner, A Movie, Or On A Vacation Alone?

Current Events
The truth is, the conditioning process is very powerful.  Somewhere along the line, we’ve all been conditioned to think of a meal or a movie or a trip as a social activity you ONLY do with others and never alone.  However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Granted, a meal “could” be a social activity…but it could also be just a means to satisfy hunger.

How many times do we eat a meal at home alone?  How many times do we walk into a McDonald’s and eat a burger alone?  How many times do we race to Chipotle with only 20 minutes left on our lunch break to grab a quick bite alone before returning to work?  We eat alone ALL THE TIME and consider it perfectly acceptable, yet at certain points in the day we decide in our own minds that it is NOT acceptable, so we shy away from doing it.  This is odd.

It’s the same with movies.  How often do we watch television at home alone?  How often do we hop on YouTube in our cubicle at work with no one else around? How often do we cue up Netflix and catch a flick while sitting alone at an airport due to a delayed flight? We watch movies alone ALL THE TIME and consider it perfectly acceptable, yet we wouldn’t dare be seen walking into a movie theater alone. Silly, huh? It’s more silly when you consider that even if you go to the movies with 12 people, all of your attention and focus is toward the screen and not to each other — so why must we have other people present at the same moment??

Let’s not forget travel.  We drive in our car alone all the time.  We ride a subway, bus or train alone multiple times per week. Many of us frequently take business trips alone and actually live to tell about it. So, why can’t we go to the Grand Canyon or Vegas alone??  It’s not because we need someone to hold our hand in order to board a bus.  We’re just always concerned about what “others” may think of us.

Current Events
For many of us, being alone in public carries certain social stigmas, which is why many of us consider doing certain things alone as social no-no’s.  But when we look beyond the surface and really think about it, our refusals to have a meal or travel or watch a movie alone in public are actually pretty silly.  We do these things alone all the time.  We just don’t want anyone else seeing us do it alone. We’re afraid of what others might think or say, or in other words, we’ve become victim to public opinion!

In our confused logic, it’s OK to go into a Wendy’s restaurant, order a chicken sandwich and actually sit at a table and eat it.  It’s just not OK to go into an Olive Garden restaurant, order a chicken sandwich and actually sit at a table and eat it.  Strange, huh? We never consider if someone is “watching” and feeling sorry for us sitting alone at a place like Wendy’s, but it’s the first thought in our minds at a place like Olive Garden.

Going to dinner, to a movie, or on a trip with family or friends can be an extremely enjoyable time. However, doing any of these activities alone can also be a uniquely rewarding experience.

I recently took a trip alone to the Caribbean and had the time of my life.  The first thing I realized is that I didn’t have to make decisions by committee.  If I wanted to go somewhere, I went.  If I didn’t want to go, I didn’t. Although I love and enjoy my friends immensely, no hour was spent debating between friends who felt like doing what.  It was great.

Current Events
Having been to this island before, I went back to a favorite restaurant I remembered enjoying once with friends.  I ordered the same meal and realized I enjoyed it 100 times more.  Why? Because the first time with friends was spent chatting, laughing, taking selfie’s and focusing on each other, however this time, I was able to experience the wine and the meal without interruption. Being alone, I actually tasted flavors in the food and drink I never focused on before.  It was heavenly. Oh, and when the check came, I paid it.  No hour was spent calculating who had the garlic mashed potatoes and where did the 5th glass of Pinot Grigio come from.

On my walk back to the hotel, I passed a movie theater and in a moment of spontaneity, I decided to go in.  It was a Monday night and there were only 2 other people inside the theater. With no friends to entertain and no one getting up for popcorn, I enjoyed the film on my own terms.  I didn’t care who saw me sitting alone (especially since the other 2 people in the theater weren’t paying attention to me).  I had a great movie, a great dinner and a great trip alone.  I never once worried about who saw me or what others were thinking.  I enjoyed my own company (by choice) and did it my way.

Now, the question is:  CAN YOU?