I always thought going to dinner by myself would be a scary experience and I was intimidated by the concept. It’s likely due to fear of being judged by strangers, but I knew that during my solo wellness trip in Hawaii, it was time to get over that fear and take myself on a date. Well, it went better than I ever could have imagined and so if this is something you are thinking about doing but you’re worried about it for whatever reason, let this be the sign to get out there and do it!!!
At the end of the day, I’ve learned that people are far too invested in themselves to care what you are doing. I got myself ready and went to a beautiful Sushi bar in Kauai on my 3rd night there. I brought my journal with me and reflected on my day while watching the sunset. It was the first time in a while that I’ve felt so at peace and present during a meal. Here are a few benefits you may experience if you take yourself out to dinner (note that ordering takeout by yourself doesn’t count!)
Mindful Eating
I highly recommend setting an intention before your date. For me, it was to eat mindfully and focus on the present moment. In my normal routine and back at home, I often feel so “go-go-go.” This is the hustle culture that unfortunately so many of us exist in now, and that bleeds into mealtimes as well. I often eat while scrolling on my phone or watching TV like many of us do, but I really wanted to break that cycle for this trip in Hawaii. Especially as I was on my own, I knew there was even more of a pressure to have my phone, tablet, or some kind of entertainment with me, since otherwise I would essentially be staring off into space by myself at a table. But guess what? Thats exactly what happened and the world kept spinning! No one cared what I was doing or that I was by myself. So, I practiced mindful eating throughout the dinner and I was shocked what a difference it made. I focused on the texture of my food, chewed it slowly and savored each flavor. The meal lasted much longer that way and I couldn’t believe that I felt more satiated after. To practice mindful eating, all you need to do is unplug the external stimuli and instead focus on the food in front of you. Chew it slowly, savor each bite and be grateful for the delicious meal you get to consume. This will take longer than normal, and that is the point!
Reflection
When is the last time you just sat with yourself and checked in? There is so much we experience, do and say, throughout our days. It can sometimes feel like life is just happening so quickly, unfolding at a rapid pace around us, and it is hard to just slow down and take it all in. Well, that is exactly what I wanted to do when I was by myself in Kauai enjoying this meal. I brought my journal and internally reflected on how I was feeling, what I was grateful for, and what I was excited about. Reflection is very important to better understand our selves and check in ~ emotionally, physically and mentally. Journaling is a beautiful practice to get the thoughts and ideas circulating in your head out on paper, but you don’t have to journal if that doesn’t work for you. It could be as simple as slowing down, closing your eyes and checking in internally. Ask yourself how you are doing and what you need in that space. You’ll be shocked at what comes up when you quiet your mind and ask what your body needs in that moment.
Romanticizing Self-Care
In case you haven’t heard this in a while, I want to remind you that you are a very special person. You work hard, give to others, strive to do great things, and so on. Giving back to yourself in a form of self-care is a wonderful thing to do and you don’t need to feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Instead of someone else showing me love by paying for my meal, complimenting my outfit, pulling my chair out for dinner, I wanted to do all those things…for me, by me! So I did! I put on my favorite outfit and jewlery, ordered what I wanted and expressed gratitude to myself throughout the night. It might sound corny on paper, but I believe that the more we can honor and love ourselves, the more we can show up for other people around us. So treat yourself to that dinner, tell yourself that you are awesome and beautiful, and work on believing it every day. I hope this inspires you to get out of your comfort zone and grow in the process.
There was no better place to try this experiment than Hawaii. It is hard to describe in words how beautiful Hawaii truly is and soaking up the magic of the scenery really helped me get in touch with my inner self and connect.
Let me know what you think!