Rolling solo to an event can be nerve racking and awkward, depending on the type of event it is. But it is a great experience.
I recently went to a networking mixer in the city after work. It was a spontaneous decision so there was no time to ask anyone to go with me for the sake of not being by myself.
Now I know what you are thinking, Joy it's a mixer, the point of it is to meet and connect with people. Yes that is true but so many people go to those events only to stay stuck in one particular area and mingle only with the people they came with. Well I had no choice but to stand awkwardly by myself and take in the environment.
I gave out warm smiles to strangers who walked by while calmly bopping my head to rnb beats.
As I stood awkwardly nearby groups of friends, I began to think twice about my decision to attend the event. I kept thinking about the other options of what I could have done such as going to the gym or cooking a nice meal.
Despite those thoughts, my legs stayed glued to the ground. Before I could even force myself to walk towards the exit, a group of young women greeted me with a friendly hello which later grew to a 20 minute conversation. It was in that moment that I felt comfortable being sociable amongst strangers. It was a great opportunity to not only learn about others, but to share some things about myself.
After that conversation, a dominoe effect occurred. I began having conversations with more people about an assortment of topics. The best part about it was that I did it alone!
I did something that most people are afraid to do...go somewhere by themselves. I met some awesome people that I may not have had the chance to meet if I had attended the event with a group of people. Most importantly, I had so much fun.
I encourage you all to stop waiting on others! If you want to attend that open mic but there is no one to go with, GO! If you want to attend that art show or brunch, GO! I challenge you to go somewhere, without a friend, at least once a month. It is not only a great way to spend time with yourself but it is a great opportunity to challenge yourself socially. Must I add, your confidence level will grow if you actually put effort into making your outing into a great experience.
