Have you ever wanted to go somewhere, but all your friends are busy that day? Are you and your friends having a hard time scheduling a date all of you guys are off? As we get older, life gets increasingly busy as the years go on. Some of your friends have kids, others have busy work schedules, and others' lives hit them hard and need their space. Whatever the reason is, it’s hard to feel like you’re missing out on life experiences because you have no one to go with. I believe COVID-19 and being quarantined shake many people’s perspectives on life. We learned how valuable this life is and how quickly everything can change. Sitting in quarantine made me realize how many experiences I had missed due to my shyness, and as I saw my early 20s rapidly turn to my mid/late 20s, I knew I needed to experience life more. This is how I started getting more comfortable with going to events by myself and some of the benefits of it.
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First, Be Ready to be uncomfortable at first.
I started taking myself out on solo dates in local spots in my area to get comfortable with going to places solo. The first time I did, it was pretty nerve-wracking. ( Girl, I only stayed for 20 minutes and got my food to go) Nevertheless, I was still proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone. Make sure you always show yourself appreciation for taking the first step!
The more consistent you are, the more comfortable you get.
Just like if you want to achieve any physical health goal, you must stay consistent. The same can apply to any self-improvement goal you set for yourself. Consistency is key! I set a goal for myself to go as frequently as possible each month to get more comfortable. Sure enough, I felt more relaxed in my own company and stayed in these spaces longer each time. I also began to feel more confident with myself. (side note: I noticed I get more compliments when I am by myself than with others, so that can also help the self-esteem 😊)
I started interacting with my environment once I got comfortable in my own company.
One day, I decided to challenge myself and spark a conversation with some women next to me. Long story short, the best decision ever! Just because you are there alone doesn’t mean you have to have fun alone. When I went on my solo cruise for my birthday, I ended up sparking this random conversation with this girl on the boat. We discovered that we were the same age, and I ended up hanging out with her and the rest of her friends during my whole trip. Despite going there solo, I enjoyed the entire trip with a group, and it was the best trip I have ever had. There have been many occasions where I had interesting conversations during my solo outings. I had networked with some of them, some I spent time with during the outing, and others I had exchanged contact information with ( I got connections in California, DMV, New York, and PA, just from having conversations with random people). I met so many amazing people just by traveling solo.
Now, I am not here telling you guys to randomly walk up to a stranger and tell your whole life story; please… don't do that. All I can say is trust your gut because you will know when it is the right time and person to start that communication with. I feel like I got something meaningful from every conversation I had during an outing. Sometimes, people will come up to you and spark up conversations. Be open to meeting new people and use discernment. You can’t experience life and find your soulmate if you just sit in the house waiting and watching all of the events you want to do pass you by. Step outside your comfort zone today and treat yourself to a date.
❤️