So simple it's genius
Every now and again something pop up on Facebook that makes you think ‘this is so simple or obvious, it’s genius’. Posted in August last year, this tale of Delores and Brooke appeared on my news feed at the weekend and I thought it was worth sharing.
“Today I went to eat at a restaurant for lunch and I saw this elderly lady coming from afar so I waited to hold the door for her, she was very thankful and sweet. She then told the waitress, "table for one", so I waited and hesitated but then I walked over and said, "I'm eating by myself too would you like to have lunch together?" She was ecstatic! I came to find out that she spent the last decade living with her mom who recently passed away and her aunt who recently was put into a nursing home, so she has been having a hard time being alone. We had a wonderful talk, and she just kept smiling and saying thank you for listening to me, which made me smile too! Her words healed my heart just as much as I healed her lonely one. By far the best decision I've made all year!!! Her name is Delores, and we will be having lunch every Thursday from now on.”
I often find myself in cafes and restaurants by myself yet never do I think of approaching other solo diners to share a table. So, what holds me back? The fear of rejection? The very British attitude of not wishing to intrude?
It’s a pity really as I’m sure there are many people who would love to sit and have a coffee or bite to eat with someone else. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and give it a go.
How would you react if s stranger asked you to share a table? Would you be comfortable enough to strike up a conversation?
Debbie McTaggart -- I love talking to strangers when I'm out shopping, either in a restaurant or waiting at the checkout. I was in BigW a few weeks ago looking to buy potting mix when a lady came up next to me and was looking at gardening seeds. We immediately started up a conversation and I said maybe we could have coffee the next time we saw each other. Well we did catch up a couple of weeks later and had coffee. What a nice lady she is. We got on so well, as if we had known each other a long time. I have since made friends with other ladies and we are always pleased to stop and have a chat. There are a lot of lonely people out there.