I go out to eat by myself often, especially when I'm travelling. I never sit at the bar. I don't bury my face in my phone (most of the time). If my face is buried in anything, it is a book. But I like to just sit there, fully present, savoring my meal, like I'm dining with the most interesting person in the world—because I am.
Here’s what I’ve learned: being alone and being lonely are not the same thing.
Society will have you believe that if you’re by yourself, something’s wrong with you. That your worth is tied to someone sitting across the table from you. That being chosen—by a friend, a partner, a group—means you matter more.
But I’ve found so much beauty in my own company. I’ve found joy in the silence, in the space I’ve created for myself to simply be. And what’s more—being alone has taught me how to choose better. Because when you’re not afraid of your own company, you don’t settle for shallow companionship.
Some people fill their lives with noise because they’re afraid of the quiet. But in the quiet, you hear the truth. You hear your own voice. You learn who you are without anyone else’s projections or expectations.
So, if you’re afraid of being alone, I challenge you: take yourself out to eat. Don’t rush through it. Don’t hide from it. Sit there. Savor it.
Because when you can love your own company, you’ll start to attract people who love you in the same way—not for what you can give them, not to fill their own voids, but simply for who you are.
Image is of the "One Drink Table", you can find it here: https://katyskelton.com/products/one-drink-table