Dining Solo — Who Says We Can’t Eat Alone?

There are those who assume that a person dining solo in a restaurant simply can’t find anyone to keep them company. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Dining Solo - Who Says We Can't Eat Alone?
Dining Solo – Who Says We Can’t Eat Alone?

Ever notice that people who are spied eating alone in public are vaguely frowned upon? They’re thought to be lonely people who, for whatever reason, can’t seem to find a partner or make friends. A hermit. A loser. Pathetic.

Dining solo is not for the faint of heart.

Many people will opt to stay home if they have no one to dine with but even that can’t help us to feel better about ourselves. How many times have you seen a TV or movie portrayal of a person happily enjoying a solitary meal at home? That’s right. Never.

Instead, it’s seen as the epitome of loneliness and is usually witnessed by an adversary peering through the window, realizing, at last, that someone they thought was bold, fearless, self-assured and confident is actually a desolate, empty and desperate recluse deserving of pity.

In the writing of this article, I researched the synonyms for “lonely person” and guess what I came up with? “Single person”.  I kid you not.

I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough. Who says we can’t eat alone?

We Ain’t Gonna Take It Anymore

We Ain’t Gonna Take It Anymore
We Ain’t Gonna Take It Anymore

I’d like to clear something up right here and now. I DO have friends, some single and some married or partnered (that I’m also friends with). I could eat dinner with any one of them, anytime I wanted to.

And, yes, I’m single but only because I choose to be. After the death of my husband, nearly 15 years ago, I decided to live my life by focusing on what’s important to me. I’ve helped to organize a number of fundraising campaigns, traveled, pursued some hobbies I’ve always been interested in and have spent as much time as I’ve wanted with my friends, children, grandchildren, parents and siblings. I’ve worked where I wanted and moved on when it no longer suited me. I can eat whatever I want, with whoever I want, wherever I want. Even all by myself.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending 25 years being married to a wonderful man and raising children. Now I’m thoroughly enjoying living my life for myself.

It’s Not You

It’s Not You
It’s Not You

The US census shows that single-person households have risen by nearly 30 million since 1960, while the number of married-couple households has only risen by just over 20 million.

In 1960, 69% of the total US households were headed by married couples while households headed by single people only accounted for 13% of the population. By 2019 the number of married couples had dropped to 48% while the number of single-person households had risen to 31%.

What does this mean? Why, in this world, where it’s easier than ever to meet people and find a mate, should the number of single people be rising? Is love dead? Is commitment a thing of the past? You may be pleased to know that studies show that love and marriage are still popular ideas among single people.

So what is it then? Is it simply because we can’t find that love we hold in such high esteem? Are single people destined to live a solitary life only to die alone and be eaten by their cats?

The fact is that both men and women alike, whether never married, divorced or widowed, are finding that there’s just no good reason to rush into things.

These days a woman can “safely” live alone and secure a job that allows her to support herself. Neither men nor women need marriage to lend them the respectability to advance in their careers, engage in social activities or even raise a family. We’re finding that we can live our lives while waiting to meet someone we truly connect with instead of feeling that we’re somehow not complete until we’re partnered.

So What’s The Problem?

So What’s The Problem?
So What’s The Problem?

Why does society still look at us with a raised eyebrow? Why do others assume we’re lonely? That we can’t possibly be happy without a partner? Maybe it’s simply because it’s happened so quickly that societal attitudes haven’t had a chance to catch up.

Or maybe it’s because we let them. Maybe some small part of us allows ourselves to be embarrassed by the simple fact that we want (and need) to eat.

Single people tend to be more socially connected and spend more time with friends and family members than their married peers, who tend to have a more contained existence that involves their own household. Singles often care more about their own personal growth and pursuing meaningful work, tending to follow their dreams while many married couples are more focused on expanding on their material growth. This leads more singles to report being happier, more fulfilled and less lonely than some married people.

And, more importantly, singles have the freedom to pursue these things. We also have the freedom to pull into a restaurant simply because we’re hungry. Isn’t that what they’re there for?

Lastly, we have the freedom to take downtime, to decide that we’d like some quiet time to ourselves, to eat what we want and not have to entertain anyone. I, for one, treasure my quiet evenings with a good meal, a book and the utter silence that allows me to rest my mind, body and spirit. That doesn’t make me lonely, desperate or sad. On the contrary, it makes me quite happy.

No Pity Zone

No Pity Zone
No Pity Zone

Hold your head up. Be proud that you’re living your life on your terms without settling, without compromise, without bending to the opinions of those who don’t know you well enough to know that you’re perfect just the way you are.

Because there’s no shame in being single.

All my best,

Cynthia
cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

 

 

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10 Replies to “Dining Solo — Who Says We Can’t Eat Alone?”

  1. I used to do that, coming to the restaurant alone. Of course, it felt weird, but I didn’t care. I think it depends now what’s the restaurant vibe. I believe, in many places you can simply just enjoy your food and nobody would really care. I guess, if you choose some more casual place.
    There’s nothing wrong in being alone and it gives much more freedom, I agree. I think many people still secretly looking for the beloved, even though they have chosen to be a single for life. However, when you have experienced both, being happy alone, being happy in relationship, you no more stressed about it, because life is no more about it, as you know what counts. In my experience it’s about us and to be happy. That’s all, no matter relationship or not. Slowly learning, that’s maybe even just an issuse of attitude. Thank you for your article Cynthia!

    1. Thank you for your thoughts on this. I think it’s important to enjoy the life you have now, no matter what you’re looking for in the future! Thank you for your comments!

  2. When I loved in Atlanta, I dined out alone quite a bit. It didn’t bother me much, but I missed the company. Nowadys, the only time I dine alone is in my vehicle grabbing fast food on the way to a meeting. My other half and I try to eat lunch together every day. I cook breakfast and most meals at home. 

    Dining alone shouldn’t be frowned on. If you are single, make sure to look up a lot. There night be someone else in the same restaurant by themself that could make you want to start dining together.

    1. Rich, what a great idea!  I never considered looking around to see who I can connect with.  What a fantastic way to make a new friend.  Thank you for suggesting it!

  3. Thanks so much for sharing this article that I’m sure will help many, dining Solo, who says we can’t eat alone, I read all the article and I aplude you to decede to be on yourself after your husband passing, my story is different, I got divorced a few years ago, and from one day to the next one, I had to learn to live by myself on weekends and on my children vacations, it was not easy and it took me sometime to get used to it, I could noticed then, it was not easy to decied to go out by myself for lunch or for dinner, I didn’t feel good at all, but I got used to it and one day I decied I had to live my life again, alone. So I stopped to look if the rest of the people were looking at me, I just did it and I got used to it. 

    1. Congratulations on getting back to living your life!  It really does take courage to get back out there…all alone.  Keep up the good work!

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