Eating alone?

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I've been stared at in food courts at Square One, Westwood Mall and other places. If you eat alone, does that make you a freak? No, it doesn't.

It's just one of those things that people judge. They don't know you. I don't understand why it is so necessary to treat eating as a social event. I mean, it is but that's not the primary purpose of it. Why is to awkward to eat alone? When I am running on a tight schedule (most of the time) and I know that I will not have time to eat before I reach Humber, I usually drop by Square One and catch a quick lunch. 

I've had sympathy stares, dirty stares, even some lunatic who asked me if he could give me company for lunch. I mean, please. What do you know about me? The first thought probably is - that chic does not have a boyfriend, SAD. Or she doesn't have friends. SAD. Or, she is embarrassed to eat as much with others because she is fat. SAD. Grow up, please.

I am not gonna stop living life, or eating because of the fear of being judged by strangers. You can stare at me all you want. I've seen people who are embarrassed of eating alone, and they will try to talk on the phone or read a book or the other to seem busy while eating. Why? Why can't I just EAT MY GODDAMN food without you having to think a hundred things about me? Going to a REAL restaurant, and saying "Table for one" might be considered more awkward. But catching a freaking meal between classes or work, alone in a food court. Do I even need to justify myself?

Apparently, I do. Because I get stared at all the time. There is nothing wrong with eating alone. Yes, isolation is taken as a gesture of un-friendliness sometimes in our culture. But come on, you don't know their story. May be I am waiting for someone who is gonna be late and I can't wait another hour to eat with them. Maybe I am working in retail and I wanna sit there and eat alone instead of eating with my co-workers. Why do you care? 

The funny thing is, every table has at least has two chairs. So, the design itself suggests that something's wrong if you're eating alone. But it's not. We are socialized to believe that meals are social activities. And, in today's world, we are so accustomed to distractions that sitting by yourself and having a quiet meal in a public and intimate environment such as a food court seems awkward. With no one sitting across the table to keep us occupied, we wonder what others are thinking of our character, status or personality. Of course, all that is deceptive because eating alone today just means that we are living in a really busy world. And making time for a meal, while not being able to call a friend or someone to eat with explains lack of time. Hence, activities like texting, calling, or reading a book take our mind off from awkward feeling of solitude.

To me, solitude means ME time. Eating alone is MY time. I can give myself a treat after a test and pass by Dairy Queen to have a blizzard by myself. And I don't need people walking by me, judging me. Why is it okay for a guy to go to a bar and drink alone? Of course, he's judged on a different level. But in comparison, the women become award winners of the "loner" title - which isn't fair. 

If you also eat alone, don't fear the strange looks or the feelings of pity. Bring a magazine, a book, or engage in something that keeps you satisfied. Enjoy your meal with gratitude and make your ME time worth it. Ignore anything off your table. I have gotten used to it so much, I pretty much ignore the entire food court =)