Going on a Date with Yourself is NOT as bad as it may seem

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Never have I ever gone on a date alone.

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Sounds strange, right? But it is a reality I am not comfortable sharing until today.

Whenever I want to eat outside, go on an adventure, or travel to places I have never been before, I always have a companion accompanying me. It does not mean that I am afraid to be alone, well it is still a part but not entirely. Truth be told, I always believed that having someone with you maybe friends or family whenever and wherever you go is much better than doing it all by yourself. It seems like I cannot find joy and satisfaction if no one close to me is present. I feel more alive, enthusiastic, and happy if they are with me.

But you know what? Some of my recent days made me realize that people around you are not always available to be with you. They also have to live their lives, alone. There are things they need to attend to, alone. You will not always be their priority. It may be harsh but it is the truth we need to face and accept. I do not want to be selfish because, in the first place, I know that this time will eventually come. Adulthood will make you realize things are not always permanent but it is just a fleeting moment.

With that realization, I tried to reflect and reevaluate myself. I tend to believe that happiness can only be attained in the presence of others. But I was wrong, I was blinded by that impression. I saw my friends having the time of their lives enjoying themselves which made me think that maybe, just maybe I could do the same. Trying some things you have never done is courage, and I chose not to back down. I found myself having unrestricted time and fewer social responsibilities, and that was the time when I decided to give dating myself a try.

I was frightened, to be honest, but not as much as you think. The first time will always be the scariest part of our lives, don't you agree? But on the contrary, it will give us a lesson we can bring with us in the future.

Since some of my skincare products and other necessities are all used up, I decided to date myself to the nearest market in our town. It is just a ten to fifteen minutes drive. As usual, when I arrived, the market was packed with civilians walking back and forth. Smokes coming from the car's exhaust pipes begin to clog my nose while the heat coming off from the sun makes me profusely sweat.

I began to walk to my first stop which was 'Family Choice'. I am going to purchase my shampoo and conditioner. But before that, I chose to roam different floors wondering if some products could catch my attention. Unluckily but still lucky for me at the same time, I didn't find any meaning I will not spend too much. With that, I went back to the hair products section and chose this brand of shampoo and conditioner. This is my first time trying these hair products so I just hope that they will serve their purpose and give the benefits they stated. It cost me around 240 pesos for these two.

My next stop is Watsons, the new branch just opened in the market near us so it is a convenience for me to buy my skincare and other products here rather than traveling for an hour to go to SuperMarket. As I entered, I looked immediately for the things I needed to buy. This branch is kind of small compared to their other branches, the products are also not complete. I tried looking for the soap and serum I usually use but I was not able to find it on the shelves. So, I asked the saleswoman if the products I was looking for were available. Luckily, yes! She just needs to get it in their stock room though. Upon receiving the items, I paid for them at the counter. It cost me 388 pesos.

The last stop that I went to was the thrift shop! Who loves buying thrift clothes here? The first thrift shop that I went to was quite spacious. It was full of thrift varieties of clothes. From shirts, polos, long sleeves, shorts, pants, and dresses, they also have bags, caps, and shoes! I am into polo partnered with shorts outfits recently. So looking for that is my main objective. I wasn't able to find good ones that's why I chose to look for random things. I managed to see this branded cap (Dolce and Gabbana). Its quality is superb but it's out of my budget. I also see a Nike cap but it costs around 400 pesos each.

Their shoes section on the other hand is on sale. It is all branded and original, but I cannot find one I like. Sometimes the shoe size does not fit mine. In the end, I spent about half an hour without buying anything.

After thrifting, I originally planned to buy some milk tea before going home but while walking I saw another thrift shop located on the upper floor of Ever Shop. Without thinking twice, I went in there and began looking for some clothes. I spent about twenty minutes looking for some polo and shorts. I managed to grab two polos and one short. All are in good condition and it's the best quality so paying for them is never been a regret. The three pieces cost me around 400 pesos.

My outfit in this photograph is the blue polo and the black shorts from the thrift! What do you think about it?

Lastly, I went to a nearby milk tea shop. I ordered an Oreo cheesecake-flavored milk tea. Upon receiving my order, I sat on the chair and enjoyed my own company.

With this experience, I realized that dating yourself is a powerful act of self-love and self-discovery. I was able to enjoy my own company without realizing it. The feeling inside made me giddy and genuinely happy. So if I were you, find time to date yourself! Being alone doesn't mean being lonely but rather it is an act of loving yourself and being entirely free.

Care to share your stories? Come on engage me in the comment section! Have you ever dated yourself? How was it? Have you ever done thrift shopping? What did you find?

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