Thanksgiving is often thought to be a time to spend with family and if you are unable to spend it with family, then you spend it with friends and have a Friendsgiving. But why should that remain the case when the majority of the population is single and dining out alone is becoming normal? This Thanksgiving singles should not be afraid to dine out alone to celebrate the holiday if they will not be spending it with family or friends.
What Society Says You Must Do
The common narrative for Thanksgiving is that it must be spent with family, but if it is not spent with family then it must be with friends for a Friendsgiving. Those are both good options, but the other option is enjoying Thanksgiving alone. There is nothing wrong with being alone or spending time alone. It is actually healthy and OpenTable has seen an increase of reservations for one by solo diners. Why not check out a new restaurant and enjoy Thanksgiving by yourself? That is what I will be doing and the day has plenty to offer singles.
What Singles Can Actually Do for Thanksgiving
Singles have the opportunity to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning. The parade features large balloons of holiday features, live music, and crowds watching the parade in New York City. You can relax watching the parade with your favorite drink in hand and check out your friends’ posting pictures on social media. After watching the parade and seeing what your social media friends are up to, you can check out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
After you see if there is anything that you want on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, get ready to go to the restaurant that you made the reservation at to celebrate Thanksgiving. There is nothing wrong with dining by yourself or to celebrate Thanksgiving alone as a single. Singles are increasingly making reservations for one on OpenTable and it is great to do something on holidays instead of staying in your apartment or house. Try a new restaurant this Thanksgiving and celebrate being single!
However, if you are not interested in exploring a new restaurant, then help out at a local food bank this Thanksgiving. Find a local food bank or church that is having a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless in your city and volunteer. Singles volunteer more than couples and it is good to help those who are less fortunate by giving your time to assist with a Thanksgiving meal at a food bank. Volunteering to help on Thanksgiving and at organizations that provide help to the homeless will give you a different view of the world that is both healthy and helpful for singles.
Depending on how you plan your day and who your football team is, enjoy watching the Thanksgiving game. You can watch the games online, on the sports, channel, or by going to a local sports bar that is playing the game. Sit back and watch football this Thanksgiving.
There are plenty of things for singles to do on Thanksgiving and ways for singles to enjoy the holiday alone. It is healthy to spend time alone. There is no reason for singles to be sad that they are not celebrating the holiday with family or was not invited to a Friendsgiving. This Thanksgiving be thankful for being single and that you are not in a bad relationship where you have to travel to your significant other’s family to have those awkward Thanksgiving dinner conversations.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment or financial advice. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). Now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon. Subscribe to Secure Single’s Substack for free!
It is often thought that if someone goes out to eat or goes out for a drink that they should go with friends, a best friend, or a date. That is not the case. Eating alone is on the rise in the United States. Singles should not be afraid to go check out a new restaurant or to go to a bar alone to keep up with sports. It is exciting to be single and singles should feel secure eating alone.
Eating alone is no longer odd; in fact, restaurants and reservation apps such as OpenTable are seeing an increase in individual reservations. OpenTable saw a national rise in single reservations grow by 62% and is reported as the fastest growing table size. According to a recent study, almost “half of all meals in solitude” while the “popularity of solo dining is on the rise and has been for some time.” There is no longer any reason why eating alone or dining alone is a problem, especially if you are single. The single life is all about embracing the independence, mobility, and autonomy being single provides to individuals.
It is a pleasure to eat alone as a single. I lived three years in New York City. It is more common to see people go to happy hours alone or to go out to eat alone in metropolitan areas. Large and growing cities like New York City such as Seattle, Denver, Austin, and Washington DC are where the majority of singles live. OpenTable made a list of the top restaurants in major cities in the United States to dine solo and enjoy a fantastic meal.
The single life is all about utilizing the freedom, travel, and to adapt to new things by acting as you please. There are many wonderful restaurants, bars, cocktail lounges, and events to go to in a city. There is no need to have to wait for a friend to go and visit the new hot restaurant in your city. Fully embrace being single and try that restaurant that you have been wanting to visit this week. It is National Singles Week after all. Celebrate being single and unmarried and become comfortable dining and eating alone.