This isn’t about being single

I began doing more things alone after my divorce because my life had changed and I had to rebuild parts of it for myself. But Go Anyway isn’t only for divorced or single women.

You can be happily married, partnered, surrounded by friends or part of a busy family and still want to do something nobody else enjoys, has time for or feels ready to try. Going alone isn’t a rejection of the people in your life. It’s permission to have experiences that belong entirely to you

And if you are single, I know how easy it is to postpone things because nobody else is available or interested. I let meals, events, days out even trips slip quietly into “someday” while I waited for somebody to come with me.

When I first started going out alone, I was convinced people would notice. Sitting in a restaurant felt particularly exposed, and I had to resist the urge to disappear into my phone. The truth was much less dramatic: most people were getting on with their own lives and paying very little attention to mine.

I’ve since eaten alone, gone to events, hiked and travelled by myself. I still plan my journey, tell someone where I’m going and take my safety seriously. If I feel nervous, I choose something low stakes or take a book while I settle in. The first few minutes are often the hardest; once I’m there, I’m usually very glad I went.

Start with one thing, that one thing will grow your confidence.