Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Going Out Alone

So a long time back Jezebel had this piece on the 5 things every woman should do alone at least once. They are: dine out alone, go to the movies, go to rock shows, travel, and road trip. This was a thought-provoking article for me.

I am extremely confused by this list, because I cannot imagine NOT having to do any or all of these things alone. And I have done them all, solo. And frankly, if I didn't do them alone, I'd be stuck laying around with the cats even more than I do on a regular basis.

So this is the question: do you, or anyone you know, not do these things alone? Or others? Why? How do you get away with it?

In my more existential moments I realize I feed into my own patterns of independence and loneliness but don't quite know how to stop because I don't have normal experiences. For me, going to the movies with people, like I did last weekend with some coworkers, is more difficult than going alone. I'm missing that getting along in groups thing. I'm fearful of other people; alone I know and like myself.

3 comments:

Cookbook said...

I have a hard time going out to eat alone, which is silly. It's still on my list of things to try.

I enjoy going to movies alone. I've never been uncomfortable with that. The first time I lived in my current neighborhood by myself I went to cheap movie night on Mondays alone pretty much every week.

The idea of going to shows alone makes me somewhat nervous, although I know enough people I'm bound to run into a friend at one which alleviates some of the awkwardness I guess.

I'd totally travel together and I like road-tripping alone.

lauralynne said...

I have done all of these things along, except for the rock show. I don't know if that's something I would ever do by myself, frankly. Everything else I enjoy doing alone or with someone. I like going to movies in groups the least because it is confusing and I really just want to watch the movie and not feel like I need also to be worrying about others. I do not always like dining out alone, but I don't shy away from it either. I'm kind of with you, though. I can't imagine not having to do any of these things alone at some point or other (barring the rock show).

Genevieve said...

As you know social aspects are where we differ the most. I have road tripped alone and enjoy it. I also will eat alone, but only for breakfast or lunch and only if it's a place with seating that is convenient for one (like counter seating). I also like to have something to read if I am going to eat alone. I don't like to go out to movies alone (I wait for it to be released on video for that) and I won't go to a show alone, but I have also not gone to a show (aside from free outdoor performances) since before Benjamin.