In my early 20s, whenever I saw a person sitting alone at a bar or dining solo in the middle of a crowded restaurant, I felt embarrassed for them. I couldn't imagine having no one to eat with or making my way through dinner without scrolling through my phone to make it look like I was busy. I've grown up a lot since then and now I can think of few things I enjoy more than my own company.

Personally, I feel like in this day and age, everything is recorded, filtered and repackaged in a way that makes it seem like if you're not constantly surrounded by your #girltribe or in a enviable relationship then your life is somehow less than. That's such bullshit. At 35, I know that the most important relationship in my life, as corny as this sounds, truly is with myself.

I'm stretched so thinly these days and counting on my husband or girlfriends to plan fun dates or get togethers is just unrealistic a lot of the times. I know, better than anyone, how to make myself happy. I know that a glass of champagne in the middle of the afternoon or a bouquet of roses for absolutely no reason is the crucial to my mental health. You can't expect other people to like being around you if you don't even like being around you.

No matter what stage you're at in life, learning how to enjoy your own damn company and figuring out what things bring you joy is so important to living a full life. Here is how I do it:

• Grab A Seat at your favorite bar or restaurant and bring along a book or an article you've been meaning to read. Take your time! Order a drink and work your way through the menu. Embrace this time for yourself and resist the urge to scroll through Instagram or check your email. This is a date, after all, and you wouldn't accept that behavior from a romantic interest -- so don't do it to yourself. If you need a recommendation for a few of my favorite bars in Atlanta, check out this post.
• Catch A Flick at a local theatre. COVID has certainly made going to see movies a little more difficult but try to catch an afternoon showing when it's likely to be less crowded. Get popcorn and an ICEE or find one of those theatres that offer cocktails or wine. Order a glass and enjoy a moment of escapism.
• Get Some Culture by leisurely wandering around a nearby museum or art exhibit. If that's not your thing, now that the weather is warming up, look into local outdoor events like jazz in the garden.
• Get Laid even if you're the one doing it! Yes we're going there. If you don't know what gets you going sexually, you need to learn ASAP. Whether you're married, seriously dating, or single AF, it's still important to give yourself mind-blowing orgasms any damn day of the week you want. Enjoying your own company doesn't just mean dinners out, it also means physically enjoying yourself!

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