One of the most well-known social stigmas is supposedly the one of dining alone. It is a topic that people have different opinions on, and while many people might agree that there is nothing wrong with it, it’s still something that you might feel self-conscious about if you find yourself doing it.
However, getting over this stigma might allow you to really embrace the culinary opportunities on your doorstep. Instead of waiting for a social occasion to line up with an opportunity to eat out, you can take matters into your own hands and simply enjoy what is available.
How Do You Spend the Time?
When you eat with other people at a restaurant, the conversation and the socializing is what makes up the bulk of the activity, but with that gone, you might find yourself questioning how you spend this time.
Simply put, the answer is that you can do whatever you want. You might want to read a book, you might want to play games on your phone, or visit an online casino to play machines a sous en argent reel, or you might want to simply sit in quiet contemplation. It could be that you are there for the food, meaning that you want to focus your entire attention on the dining experience itself.
Different Types of Dining
This is a more complex topic to open up than it might seem at first due to the sheer variety of dining experiences that are available.
Would you think it strange to swing by a fast-food restaurant and quickly grab some food on the way to a different destination? Likely not, and it could be that you want to sit down briefly while you eat – even if that is at an external location, such as a park bench. At that point, how different is it to going to a restaurant alone?
Of course, you might find that you can rationalize it as much as you want – it does not matter if you don’t feel comfortable actually partaking in this activity, which is what it all comes down to. However, there is certainly a precedent to turn to if that has been what’s holding you back.
Your Own Comfort
Asking the question of whether there is a stigma or not might ultimately miss the point – that this is more about you than anyone else. If you want to go to a restaurant alone, there is no reason you can’t. However, if you also feel you would not be comfortable doing so, there’s no reason you have to just prove a point. Your own discomfort with the situation is not necessarily indicative of whether you think it’s right or wrong either – you might have no problem with it in theory, but that doesn’t mean you have to personally go and do it. However, trying to get into the habit of improving your self-confidence with smaller issues like this might be something that allows you to live more comfortably at times.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
