…so sue me!
When talking to my friend the other day, she asked what I doing and I told her I just had lunch at one of my favorite eateries in the city. She went on to ask me who I dined with and I told her no one. It was just me, my mini notebook, and Chloe, my Blackberry. She seemed appalled all of a sudden—you ate lunch alone?
Yes, I did.
There is something about eating lunch by my lonesome which actually becomes a cathartic experience. I love sitting at the table with my food and my work in a trance, not bothered with having to make conversation with someone.
I actually have been eating lunch by myself for years. I rather enjoy it. Before I started blogging and freelancing, I would eat lunch with a book. It was my way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of the office. Eating alone kept my sanity when it was a hectic time in the workplace.
Now, I like eating lunch by myself because I get major work done and I love to people watch. People watching gives me inspiration on my blog and on the articles I write for other venues.
Eating lunch alone is therapeutic. Do I care that people see me eating by myself? Do I care what it looks like? Absolutely not. My friend was stunned because I ate lunch alone because it gave the impression that I was “unpopular” but I will be 35 next week—I’ve given up caring about what others think about me years ago. Sounds like a self esteem issue if you ask me.
If you haven’t, I encourage you all to eat lunch by yourself. Bond with your thoughts, your dreams, you ambitions, over a good sandwich. Dining alone is a good thing. Lunch with self is pretty cool in my opinion.
Do you eat lunch by yourself?
Yes and occasionally dinner as well. For me it’s not that big of a deal. Usually I’m at the table with my moleskine and a pen writing or just taking in the scenery. My friends make more of a big deal about it then I do. I usually just tell them I’m comfortable with being with me. If there is somewhere I want to go and no one to go with that’s still not stopping me.
I see nothing wrong with eating lunch alone. I use to do all the time. During my lunch hour I just needed that ne time away from everyone and the work gossip. It was a great way for me to catch up on phone calls and personal business .
I love eating alone! Naturally, I also love eating with friends, but alone time is great. I get enough of coworkers at the office – I need “me time” at lunch to destress. Why spend an hour talking about work when you’ve already been working for four hours and will head back for more? I’m just fine with eating alone at a table and reading a book, or taking the Nintendo DS under a shady tree and fighing some bad guys. In fact, I crave it. 🙂
I ate lunch alone for the first time the other day. In fact, I have been meaning to blog about it, but you beat me to it. What surprised me the most is that while I always thought it would make me pathetic to be by myself, once I looked around, I noticed that the majority of the folks in the restaurant were eating alone too.
A lot of my friends work on the weekends, so I’ve started getting Saturday brunch/lunch on my own. I used to always just grab fast food…. but that had to stop obviously. Now, I love going to little cafes with just myself and a magazine!
I always eat lunch alone; just me, a book &/or Eva (my Evo)
Used to do it all the time in the corporate world and for similar reasons. Some people are energized by other people. I get worn out by them after a few hours so my recharge was isolation (LOL). Guess it was the loner in me coming out.
Who knew I’d embrace networking all these years later (smile). Fits perfectly for me as a business owner. Let’s hear it for the “me time” crowd.
(Your phone has a name? Just playing. Couldn’t help it 🙂
I started a new job two months ago and I made it a plan to get to know all the best eateries close by alone! I like to eat lunch alone and reflect on alot of things. I’ve even been called “selfish” for not socializing with the other co-workers on my team but I don’t need to. I am fine just as I am and by the looks of it, it’s totally normal in todays society! Sometimes, NOT eating lunch with other people in the group makes for a better fit. Salud Muchachas!!
There are days where I have to eat by myself because I need to re-energize to go back into the office. It gives me a chance to read, write, pray and just relax.
I eat lunch alone at school because a lot of people in my program gossip and talk negatively in the lunch room about professors and patients. It seems the gossip is too much and instead of it being a relaxing experience, it just clouds my mind. I need a break from people so that when I go back I am more energized and friendly. Totally relate to your blog. I think people who “look down” on eating lunch alone have low self-esteem because they’re worried about what others think.