Romance & Reality

I’ve always enjoyed a nice solo date. But I must say, these days, dating myself has become deeply enjoyable. It’s as though I’ve discovered a new layer in the joys of solitude. There’s something so deeply fulfilling about going to my favorite restaurant for a savory steak dinner paired with a nice glass of Bordeaux, taking in the moment and being present. I engage in girl talk with my favorite bartender, reflect in my journal and catch up on a few chapters in my book of the month. No rush, no schedule, no obligations. Just time, space and opportunity to breathe.

Sometimes I catch a movie afterwards. I go home, change into something cozy yet chic, pack a plush blanket and my favorite snacks, then hit the grand cinema. And yes darling, it specifically has to be a grand cinema because I need my seat to recline for comfort. The theaters are usually empty though. Maybe because everything’s achievable from our phones in our homes. But I don’t complain. I bask in the comfort of knowing the theater’s all mine.

But I must admit, a thought or two crosses my mind about how socially deprived we are as a society. How out of touch we are with what seems like everything. Will things ever resemble or return to what and how they used to be, socially? Probably not, unfortunately.

I mean, even I have grown more accustomed to the joys of being home alone. Because after my movie ends, guess what I do next? Go home, pour myself a chilled glass of Riesling, and put on some Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, or whatever soothes me. I dim the lights and prepare to take a steaming hot shower while notes of wisteria, rose, or cherry vanilla fill the air. Comfortable, cozy, relaxed and present with me, myself and I.

So I don’t know. Maybe more people are growing more comfortable with dating themselves. Maybe staying indoors is more comforting than submerging oneself into the hustles and bustles of the world. Maybe there’s a generational awakening in the works. Or maybe, it’s a personal one. Or maybe, it’s all of the above.

Reflectively,

AD

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Thank you for reading, and for crossing into the world of Analise Devereaux.