Contributed by: Jet on Saturday, December 12 2009 @ 09:47 am
Last modified on
The holidays are approaching, and with them come the inevitable holiday parties. Some people I know will do anything to avoid going to these parties alone – including bringing siblings and old dates that didn't pan out.
Personally, I find this counterproductive. I understand bringing a friend as insurance if the party turns boring, but why subject yourself to someone you can hardly stand for an entire evening?
This year, try going alone, dressed to kill. I can't promise that it will land you a date, but it will probably be more fun. The possibility of “anything” is a definite improvement over the grim certainty of a night with someone you'd rather push into the punch bowl. Parties should be enjoyed, not merely endured.
The “go it alone” tactic might be worth exploring when it's not the holiday season, as well. Think about your social habits: are you only ever found in public from the depths of a pack of friends?
I have a friend who used to complain that she never met anyone. What she didn't realize is that she was almost never alone; if she went out, it was with two or more friends.
Not only does that raise the intimidation factor for anyone who'd like to talk to you, it also lowers your awareness of what's going on around you. That person in Starbucks might have been trying to catch your eye for ten minutes, while you were engrossed in a friend's story.
Going out alone also demonstrates that you're an independent person who is comfortable in their own company – not an unattractive trait to have.
This doesn't mean that you should never go out with friends – on the contrary, people are most attractive when they're unselfconscious and having a good time. But perhaps it's not a bad idea to assess your availability from time to time, and be more aware of your surroundings – catching that person's eye and giving them a smile might be all the encouragement they need to brave your friends.