A Milestone Day

Greetings,
Wow .. this was really a special day for me.
First, my book finally arrived .. it's done, on sale, out there.
Second, I took myself out for dinner ... at a nice restaurant. Let me explain.

I'm quite successful. I travel all over, I speak at conferences in front of hundreds of people, I've written two books; BUT, I have a hard time taking myself out to dinner alone. Funny, huh?

I can go out to breakfast or lunch on my own and even out to dinner at a salad joint or diner; but to go to a "real" restaurant is a problem. Why? Usually, there are couples and groups eating out in restaurants. You don't see too many people on their own. So, it feels lonely and I wonder what people think about me when they see me sitting alone. Of course, they're probably not thinking about me at all, but rather, are engaged in conversation with whomever they are with. But, in my imagination, I think they're wondering... "Gee, she must be a loser, or poor thing -- she's alone, or she probably doesn't date, etc." Weird. NO, I"m not a loser and I'm not a poor thing.. and I do date; but I don't always have a date or a friend to go with and sometimes I just want a good meal out. At those times, instead, I usually order in (in NYC anyone delivers) or buy something prepared from a local grocery.

Tonight, however, I wanted to celebrate receiving boxes of my book. My new book: Sixty, Sexy, Sassy and Free: A Real Woman's Story of ReInvention is about a brave woman starting over at age 60.(Go here: http://tinyurl.com/bn62hh) Notice it doesn't say in the title: "she can't go out to dinner alone."

So, I walked across the street to a great, trendy restaurant, sat at the bar, ordered a glass of Proseco. I've been there for a drink a couple of times and the bartender remembered me. I told him I was celebrating. He congratulated me. I was only going to have a drink and maybe an appetizer. But, I said, "aw what the heck ..." and I ordered dinner. Okay, I did eat it at the bar, not at a table ... but still .. I conquered the issue. And, I'm all the better for it.

So, I ask you .. what do you have to overcome? What new chance do you need to / want to take? I invite you to take the step and do it.

So, indeed, it was a milestone day. I received the finished copies of a book I've worked on for 3 years AND I ate dinner alone at a trendy restaurant.
I'm a boomer who takes risks and shares that with the world to encourage them to do the same.

Thanks for checking in.
Have a good night.
Ann