How a Writing Exercise Changed my Perspective on Solo Dining
Friday Flutter Report 3.13.26
One little flutter of your wings and your whole life can change 🦋 Friday Flutter Reports are a way to reflect on one action from the week that made an impact. It serves as a reminder that change doesn’t always come from something grand.
I’ve never particularly enjoyed dining alone. At best, I feel neutral about it. As someone who loves food, I want my meals to be a memorable, shared experience. I don’t want to sit in silence, I want to discuss the best part of your day while we split sweet potato fries and wait for our entrees. I want us to obsess over the divinity of the dessert and reminisce about it 3 months from now. Remember when we had that life-changing tiramisu at that one place after that really wild week?? When I eat alone, I don’t have anyone to back me up when I want to hyper-fixate on the meal. Plus, I usually feel bored, even restless while I wait for my food.
Despite this stance, on Thursday I decided to take myself on a solo sushi date. I wanted to go alone so I could try a writing exercise (the restaurant also had happy hour pricing and I had an unshakeable craving for some sushi, so that helped motivate me).
The mission was to approach dinner through the lens of a travel writer. Meaning, if I was traveling right now and this was a new-to-me local restaurant, how would I write about it? How would I describe it? What would I notice?
Not to sound dramatic, but this gave me a sense of purpose during my time at the restaurant. I wasn’t just staring at my phone or shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I was a detective studying the space around me. I was perched at the second floor bar, which gave me a perfect view of the movement below. I took notes on everything I saw - the fish scale tiles (blue, if you were wondering), the plethora of plants clinging to the ceiling (not a botanist, no idea what kind), the teenager playing on an iPad while the parents chatted (trying not to judge!!), and the well-crafted whisk(e)y bottles lining the bar (I will be googling the prices later). I wouldn’t say that I walked away with enough for a riveting travel story, but it was fun and it was good writing practice. Honestly, it even gave me a few ideas for metaphors and style choices that I can use in other types of writing. Plus, my sushi was delicious.
While I still prefer sharing meals with others, I now have a new mindset when I have to dine alone - treat it as an opportunity to observe, learn, and appreciate. Approaching the meal with a sense of purpose and not as an unavoidable necessity makes it wayyyy more enjoyable.
Happy Friday and I hope you do something that brings you joy this weekend 💙