Whenever my husband was out of town and my girlfriends weren’t available to go out and play, I stayed home. I’d settle into the comfort of girly movies, a glass (or two) of wine, and pizza for dinner. The idea of going out alone always intimidated me. I worried about how I might look to others, like a “loser” sitting by herself and that fear kept me firmly planted on the couch.
One weekend, I decided it was time to face that fear. I stepped out for a drink, with myself. I went to a cozy Irish pub near my home, sat at the bar, and ordered a drink. I brought along my journal and e-reader for company, okay, more like a safety blanket, just in case.
After a couple of drinks and some time jotting down story ideas for my blog, the couple sitting next to me asked what I was writing about. That simple question opened the door to a friendly conversation, which led to a round of drinks, and eventually two other solo bar-goers joined in. What began as a night alone quickly turned into a shared, easygoing experience.
The entire evening felt incredibly liberating. It reminded me that stepping outside my comfort zone can lead to unexpected connections and even new friendships. Professionally, it may spark future story ideas; personally, it gave me a renewed sense of confidence.
So go ahead, lonely ladies, try it. Take yourself out. You might be surprised by what happens. And who knows? Next time, I may even invite another solo woman to join me for dinner.
