The accidental single diner…

Last night, after what was a great evening at DollFace Spa (which by the way has many affordable beauty treatments!), I started my trek home only to end up in bumper-to-bumper traffic.  I mean full halt, ‘nobody-move-nobody-get-hurt’  type of traffic.

So, being the quick thinker that I am, I get off the highway and decide to take another route. You laugh…because I’m guessing you know what comes next? Pity I didn’t!

But yes, if you guessed that many, many other people had the same brilliant idea as me…you guessed right.  So, after a fleeting moment of joy, a never-ending stream of red lights was spotted and major anxiety ensued.

I called Rob in a desperate plea for help (yes, I can be a bit of a drama queen, I’m the only girl in the house so I’m allowed!).  Please, please give me instructions of how to get home in the fastest, easiest way.  You know what he said to me?

Stop at the next restaurant you get to.  Sit, eat, relax and then get back on the road again.  Call me when you’ve stopped.

I’m not sure if I was more shocked at this bizarre recommendation to stop and take a break BY MYSELF or at how my hunger pains seemed to have tripled!  I mean this is dinner time…not lunch time.  I have no problem having lunch on my own, but outside of the fact that I should be home, having dinner at home, you’re telling me to go have dinner in a restaurant by myself?  AWKWARD.  I felt self-conscious all of a sudden…like I was at a theme park and someone yelled out ‘single rider’ to find the one single person who wants to get on the ride.  I’m not sure why having dinner alone made me anxious. I mean, I’m pretty funny, I’m fun to be around, people seem to like me…can I not enjoy my own company?

Anyway, off I went to the restaurant, parked my car, got out and very bravely went into the restaurant and said ‘Dinner for 1 please’. Despite that it was ‘dinner for 1’, I ordered like it was ‘dinner for 2’…but again, guessing you all called that one too!

You know what’s next right? Yup…my ‘aha’ moment.

Sometimes, when we’re working on something – say a project of sorts – and we meet road blocks from every angle that we take, it’s okay to ‘GET OF THE RIDE’ for a little bit.

• STEP 1 – Stop: take stock of what’s happening, maybe even call a trusted friend for their advice. Sometimes (I stress sometimes) others may have a line of sight into situations that you might not because of how deeply involved you may be in it. If you don’t think you have such a friend (please call me, I’ll be your friend), trust your gut! Proceed to Step 2.
• STEP 2 – Eat: do something you enjoy.  Something that will lower your stress, yet give you the energy/fuel/clarity you need to start your ‘journey’ again. Proceed to Step 3, I repeat proceed to Step 3.  You do NOT want to stay at Step 2, you do not want to get distracted, you do not want to give up, you do not want to settle.  So please, go to Step 3…
• STEP 3 – Get back on the road again: after you’ve regrouped, you might find an easier way to tackle the problems.
• STEP 4 – Arrive at your destination: celebrate that you made it!

You know, as awkward as my first ‘accidental single diner’ experience was, I think I might try it again ON PURPOSE.

T