Last week, I casually mentioned to a friend that I had gone to see a movie by myself. Personally I’ve never thought it strange to catch an afternoon matinee without accompaniment. Besides, watching a movie is a great exercise in time out of mind: I firmly believe it’s an activity that does not require assistance from others.
Apparently, her sentiment was not the same. I was, as she put it, “one of those sad people.” Her mental picture of my experience must have been much different than my reality: legs propped, casually dressed, and enjoying Sour Patch Kids until my tongue resembled sand paper.
The fact of the matter is that it’s okay to do certain things on your own. Though society and our friends may tell us differently, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a movie, taking a walk, or eating a meal alone. I’ll even go a step further by admitting that I sometimes prefer to enjoy a meal without distractions.
At the risk of sounding cynical, let me make clear that great food shared in the company of others is one of life’s true pleasures. Reality, however dictates that sometimes we may not always be able to ‘line up’ a dining partner. Between work, travel, family, and personal schedules we are bound to sometimes eat alone. Getting back to the movies, don’t let Lloyd Christmas’ quote, “Man, you are one pathetic loser” to Harry Dunn in Dumb and Dumber take root in your mind. Instead, use this opportunity as a chance to unwind and relax from a busy day.
For many of you, the idea of cooking for yourself doesn’t really sound like a time to unwind and relax. I get it. With all of the restaurants and take-out options at your fingertips, it’s easier to let someone else do the work. However, you should take note that these establishments typically do not have your best interests at heart. The truth is it’s easy to make food taste good. Mom’s trick of adding cream, butter, and cheese always made us eat our vegetables. It’s likely that your favorite restaurant's meals are laden with extra fat and calories.
Turn on some tunes, crack open a cold beer or pour a glass of wine, and get to work. After all, we are not sad people. We are realistic.
----guest post by Matt Moore----
full article available at www.artofmanliness.com
