Going Solo

(Going Solo Worked Out Well For Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun!)
I know so many people who refuse to go places by themselves, and it utterly astounds me.  Eating in a restraunt alone?  No way.  Driving into yor favorite city and wandering around alone?  That's just silly.  Travel to another state or country on your own?  Now that's just crazy talk!

The reasons people I know refuse to "do things by themselves," (and they are mstly women, by the way) falls into two categories: I'm Scared to be Alone, and I'm Scared that I'll be Putting Myself in Danger.  Let's address each of these concerns one at a time.  

I'm Scared that I Will Be Putting Myself in Danger.
This is a genuine concern for many women.  Though it is not an unfounded claim to say that it is more dangerous for women to venture off into the world on solo adventures than it is for men, I think that the danger of these situations is over-amplified.  By whom?  I'm not sure.  Nervous mothers everywhere, maybe?

In my opinion women can go anywhere alone that they want, but since women are targets for attack, there are certain precautions that you should take.
1.  Act like you know what you are doing and walk around like you own the joint.  If you are lost, don't let others know.  Always act like you know what you are doing, and you won't look like easy prey.  If you are looking over your shoulder like a scared rabbitt every ten seconds, you are going to be a prime target.  
2.  Don't be an idiot.  Don't walk across a pitch black city park at night, and don't wander around notoriously "bad areas" of town for no reason.  Use common sense, and think of your safety before you embark on a solo journey.

I'm Scared to be Alone.
What exactly are you afraid is going to happen, my dear?  I hate to break it to you, but the worst thing that can happen if you are eating solo in a restraunt or sipping a coffee solo is that you might get a little bored.  Or maybe some annoying guy will try to talk to you.  But there are plenty of ways to get rid of an annoying pest, and you can bring a book, mini gaming device, or iphone/balckberry if you think you are going to get bored.  Or, using devices that allow you to communicate with your friends kind oof defeats the purpose of being alone, try people watching.  Make up stories about the people around you.  I find it to be quite an amusing pasttime.

In other words gals, get over yourselves and your fears of being alone, whatever the may be.  There's a whole wide world to explore out there, and you don't have to bring a friend in order to be allowed to explore it.