Last year, I took a bold step and learned how to "date" myself. After being married for twenty-five years, being alone in public gave me all sorts of anxiety. Needless to say, it wasn't easy at first, but I grew to enjoy my time out. By mid-year, carving out time to explore new places in my new city for dinner became my self-date every Friday night!
However, as the weeks rolled by, my weekly self-dates started to feel a little… predictable. Same restaurants, same vibes, and if I'm being honest, the effort to swap my comfy clothes for "real people" cute fits became less appealing.
So, this year, I've decided to shake things up and add a dose of creativity to my solo adventures with ABC Date Nights! (Or, in my case, self-dates!)
What Are ABC Date Nights?
The idea is simple: each week, I'll choose an activity or restaurant inspired by a letter of the alphabet. Starting with "A" and working my way to "Z," I'll use the letters as a springboard to try new things and visit fresh places!
To kick things off, I had my "A" date at a restaurant I've never tried before, Allyn's! It was yummy! My plan was to go to an Arcade bar downtown, but I ended up at an "at-home" movie, instead.
Some of the other ideas I considered for my "A" self-date night included:
- Art Class
- Arcade Night
- Axe Throwing
- Art Museum
- Aquarium
- Acoustic Live Music
Learn even more ideas by clicking the ABC buttons below. I will be updating them each week with a new letter FULL of ideas! And if weekly dates sound like too much, there are at-home ideas, as well!
Join the Fun!
This isn't just for solo adventurers like me. Couples, friends, or anyone looking to shake up their routines can join in and make ABC Date Nights their own!
It's a great way to:
- Explore your city.
- Step out of your comfort zone.
- Add variety to your outings.
- Add excitement to stay-at-home dates.
- Create memories.
- Spice things up!
- And...maybe even find a new favorite spot!
How You Can Participate
- Start with the letter A: Pick an activity or place that starts with the week's letter. Click the buttons below if you need ideas.
- Share your plans: Post your experiences and photos on social media, and tag me if you'd like! I'd love to hear all about it! I'm tarammartin.real on IG. #ABCDates
- Keep it FUN!: Remember, this is about exploring and enjoying the journey, not about perfection or stress!
Each week, I'll update this blog with my letter-inspired date ideas via the buttons below. If you're following along, feel free to share your own!
Let's keep each other inspired and motivated to make this year a little more adventurous, one letter at a time!