Years ago it occurred to me that if I wanted to see the world I would have to do it on my own. So I did and loved it!! Friends who I had travelled with in the past were and are at different places in their lives with young families and commitments. As someone who is perpetually single, my responsibilities are much less, schedules are easier to negotiate and I wanted to see explore, so I did and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how little I was bothered about being on my own, and even more so my how safe I felt. Though, too be fair, I was travelling in places where I wasn't expecting too much trouble and certainly didn't look for it.
Being on my lonseome, I found that I was more likely to be approached for a conversation and more likely to start one also. As a result I met many interesting people and some not so but I made an effort to mingle. The only time I did feel awkward was the first few solo breakfasts at the hotel on my own or dinner out. A table for one, in a packed Venetian cafe can be quite an intimidating experience until you realise you're surrounded by other travels or sympathetic locals and someone is bound to say hello and if eating on your own is not your thing, there's always the option to take away and stroll or sit in a park and people watch.
Recently I wanted to attend an Irish folk music concert where 500 year old Gaelic poetry was sung and there was much fiddling (of the instrument kind). Now in the past I had managed to convince friends to attend all sorts of performances, events and activities in the name of broadening ones mind and experiencing a bit of culture. With time and history friends have been a little less open to ideas and I can understand, I think some lost confidence after attending the Desperate and Dateless ball, in my defence it was in my younger days and for charity, so where's the harm I ask? On this occassion I decided, why not go on my own? Being in my home city I never really considered doing things on my own, but if I can do it in a foreign place why not in my city. So off I went, found my single seat at the end of a row and before I knew it was chatting to a lovely gent next to me about the band and what to expect. So a few weeks ago I tried a comedy show on my own. For the first few minutes I missed turning to a friend and sharing that knowing glance after a chuckle but them settled in and enjoyed the night.
It is a little daunting, and you may feel it a little sad, but once you're out having a great time, you'll wonder why you spent all that time trying to convince your friends to see a show, an exhibition or a movie, and then worry about their reactions or responses, when you could just do it on your own, stay as long as you like, maybe meet a new person or two and have a blast.
Try it, I can recommend it. Don't wait for others to live your life. Just go for it and enjoy!
Until next time....
Always,
K
