Recently I experienced a delicious breakfast date with myself. I was feeling so complete in my own company. My husband and I were enjoying some time near a beach at a resort in Fiji and that morning I was not ready to eat before he set off for an early game of golf. I decided that eating later would suit me better.
It was lovely and confirming to feel the security, presence and confidence I had around being on my own but not feeling at all lonely. I had an enormous appreciation for how content I felt – and now feel – in myself.
An honouring morning:
- I lay in bed enjoying just being with me until I felt it was time for me to get up – without feeling the need to go into any form of overdrive
- I did what I wanted to do and honoured how I felt. I enjoyed time on the verandah working on my computer and drinking herbal tea
- Mid-morning when I started to feel hungry, I decided to get dressed in a beautiful dress. I did my hair in a way I wanted to wear it, rather than in the most pristine way to look my best; I went for comfort and how I felt and this was empowering in itself
- I walked to the restaurant feeling glorious and excited that I was having some quality time on my own, that I could Be as I am, even in a restaurant full of people
- I waited patiently in line to be served and escorted to my table for one. This was also empowering and lovely to feel how comfortable I felt to walk through the restaurant to my table
- I was escorted to what I think is the best table in the restaurant on the most perfect morning. The table was positioned at the edge of the restaurant, away from the hustle and bustle of people rushing to get their breakfast plate topped up and it was closest to the beautiful scenery of the beach
- I felt blessed and lucky and so appreciative.
My breakfast dining experience – breakfast was great! I ordered an egg white omelette with tomato and had some stir fry cabbage on the side with a little pawpaw and a pot of peppermint tea.
I paid extra attention not only to my meal but how I sat, how I ate and how I drank and all of this was extremely confirming of my connection, presence and stillness.
Each bite of food felt like a warm, soft, delicious kiss and I allowed myself to feel how tenderly I can eat, place food in my mouth and pour and drink my tea. I gave myself space between my bites and savoured the flavour of the food.
Looking back to a similar experience eight years ago, I would have felt:
- uncomfortable to be on my own
- self-conscious about others looking at me
- lonely
- too worried about the situation to even enjoy me
- not connected with myself or
- a lack of presence or tenderness during my dining experience.
That day I felt nothing but my deliciousness and tenderness in expression at a breakfast date with myself. I was completely enjoying my own company, the beautiful scenery and the gift of feeling content with it all.
Inspired by the work of Serge Benhayon and the support of the Practitioners and Student Body of Universal Medicine.
By Johanna Smith, Bachelor of Education, Perth WA
Further Reading:
Yearly Holidays – No Longer Taking a Break from Life, but Enjoying Me!
Today I Sat Down – Nurturing Myself as a Woman
The Greatest Love is Within Me
644 Comments
When and what to eat comes with an energy that can be filled with our dedication to re-connect to our Soul and when we have listened, we are able to enjoy the most exquisite cuisine and the company can play a part but is not imperative.
Confidence in knowing and feeling the essence of who you are is to be aware of an inner stillness.
Once our reconnection is made to our essence, to our innermost heart, there is such a beautiful sense of loveliness within ourselves, it is so enjoyable and not dictated to by the circumstances around us.
“I paid extra attention not only to my meal but how I sat, how I ate and how I drank and all of this was extremely confirming of my connection, presence and stillness.” When we stay present in all we do it transforms any interaction, whether we are alone or with others.
How often do we take the care, love and support for ourselves that we may do if others were with us – as for example in eating out alone? I used to feel ‘less than’ when eating alone, but nowadays I enjoy the experience – being with me in my fullness.
Letting go of what we think other people will think is the freedom to be ourselves.
Lovely to read of your delicious breakfast date with yourself, ‘That day I felt nothing but my deliciousness and tenderness in expression at a breakfast date with myself. I was completely enjoying my own company, the beautiful scenery and the gift of feeling content with it all.’
I LOVE dates with myself, I actually find myself amazing company – and I think it’s a great way to begin to appreciate yourself and discover who you really are.
It does feel totally amazing when we really do what we feel like doing, and what our body is feeling like doing: when we’re living in sync with our bodies, there is a natural ease and flow to life and we feel vital and alive.
The more you enjoy being in your own presence the more of that joy you bring to others.
Gorgeous Joshua – and so true.
I can easily relate to how the idea of eating alone would have felt to you ‘eight years ago’ as this is exactly how I would have felt. I could even feel the old uncomfortableness when I considered the idea. So, it appears that what has unfolded for you over this time has made such a huge difference in the way you live, so you can now dine alone and still have a most delicious experience, both figuratively and literally.
Thank you for sharing the deliciousness of being in your own company.
I so loved reading this again, so confirming of the gorgeousness of being in love with our amazing being, so complete in itself. I paid extra attention not only to my meal but how I sat, how I ate and how I drank and all of this was extremely confirming of my connection, presence and stillness.
When we have fallen in love with ourselves we are on a never ending date with ourselves and the rest of the world.
Loving ourselves, dating ourselves, let’s face it self-love is an amazing foundation for our lives
So gorgeous to read Johanna, I can feel in my own body how beautiful it is being fully in our own company and enjoying every moment and every movement. Complete with no need for anything else.
Yes, it was gorgeous to read, and inspiring too, ‘I paid extra attention not only to my meal but how I sat, how I ate and how I drank and all of this was extremely confirming of my connection, presence and stillness.’
We do tend to have this self-consciousness about eating alone and feeling awkward, but when we are fully content to be with ourselves without having to be anything for anyone else, then it’s easy to sit in public and enjoy a great meal and some time to ourselves.
I was recently part of a conversation with a group of women where we discussed contentment and are we able to just be and not go into raciness, trying to fix things, trying to be everything etc or can we just be. It was a really interesting conversation and made me more aware of how I am in those moments when I don’t need to be or do anything- I find that at these times I feel unsettled and look for constant stimulation.
I can relate to this and how I have a tendency to keep myself busy and not appreciate spending time just with me.
I love being by myself in that quiet and content space where I need nothing and no one else
Breakfast today at the Tropical Beach Resort in Hoi An was amazing and as one does getting to connect and be play-full with the resort staff was a normal part of the two hour breakfast. The way we share our love and hugs with each other deepens each year.
How often do you appreciate the deliciousness and exquisiteness of simply being with ourselves? There alone is a never-ending world of wonder to explore.
I love how you write this Carola, it makes me think of almost like a never-ending well of possibility inside me that I could explore at any moment in time.
Appreciation of ourselves is always important, appreciating the deliciousness and exquisiteness of simply being with ourselves takes appreciation to a whole new level.
As adults we could see this as a momentous occasion to be fully connected and loving how delicious it feels not needing anything. As children this is normal in every moment. How important is it then for all us to have and design our systems to support connection. Imagine walking into that restaurant and it is designed in every way to support you to connect …
Going out to eat on my own always used to put me slightly on edge – what if other people noticed, and should I feel embarrassed or ashamed I didn’t have company? But I found my favourite thing to do is to take myself out with my textbooks and computer for a cup of tea at a local coffee shop and sit and study and be with myself but with people as well, striking up conversation and just being at ease
This was a good reminder to do this as I haven’t ‘taken myself on a date’ in a while. I do enjoy times where I go and do things by myself and just enjoy my own company.
When you are at one with who you are you are never lonely because you can feel the essence of love in everyone.
Sometimes my body speaks loud and clear and is telling me it wants something different from our scheduled plan. Formerly I would more than likely stick to the plan so as not to upset my friends or the smooth running of the day but when I do choose to honour my body I am amazed at how everything just works out so well for everyone.