I have found that many people aren’t comfortable dining alone. It makes them feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.

Rare is the person that can sit by themselves on a park bench or in a restaurant. They feel inclined to be doing something to keep themselves occupied. I think that people want to give the impression that they are sitting there intentionally. Being occupied helps calm a person’s nerves and divert attention from them. They want to recede into the background.

Dining alone is a rite of passage. I’ve become accustomed to it over the years as I visited foreign countries and didn’t have anyone to join me. Sometimes I brought a newspaper or book with me to pass the time. Other times I found a tv on the wall that was showing a soccer match. The more I traveled, the more confidence I gained in being comfortable simply being on my own in a new location.

Taking the first step in any new initiative is not unlike dining alone for the first time. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will be when faced with the unknown. Like a lot of things in life, it’s a matter of confidence.