Author Archives: Dee

Strawberry Fields…Forever!

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Strawberry Fields!

Strawberry Fields!

Here’s something that works for me, when I’d like to clear my mind while doing something alone.  I find that choosing an activity that is physically engaging, anchors me in the present.

“Do not dwell on the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment”        Buddha

For example, getting out into farmland and orchards to help harvest the earth’s beautiful bounty requires real focus.  You have the experience of the activity, the “fruits” of your labor and all the many ways to consume and enjoy your bounty!

My local field is at Bartlett’s Farm on Nantucket Island.   The salt sea air and bright summer sun nudge these delicious berries into full ripeness.  You can buy a container and go out in the fields and pick them yourself!  With organic food becoming so popular, you can find all sorts of places that offer this kind of activity.  This particular summer day started out with a cool breeze, after humid heat and fog the past few days.  So off I went, early morning to Bartlett’s Farm and here’s the result and “fruits of my labor”:

Sunset Strawberry Bubbly

Sunset Strawberry Bubbly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2015 Marion O’Grady

Dining Tips: Repeat Visit

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“People who love to eat are always the best people”  Julia Child

When you’re first out there, exploring the adventure of dining alone, try “repeat dining”.   Of course the goal is to get enough experience to feel comfortable going anywhere.  But to get to that point, it’s helpful to chose a place and go there a couple of times, if you like it.

Here’s why:  The first time, you may feel a bit uncomfortable.  But if you have a good experience and are sure to leave a nice tip (no need to go overboard, just don’t be stingy), you will be remembered.  The trick is to go back soon after your first outing, so you’re recognized.

I’ve found this to be helpful in neighborhood restaurants and, even more importantly, when traveling.  In most cases, they will welcome you back, remember which table you liked and sometimes they add a special amuse bouche from the chef, or after dinner drink to your meal.  It will make you feel a bit royal.  Imagine the next time, when you bring someone along with you…they will see how you are greeted with special treatment and be delighted as well!

 

Orsay

 

Copyright Marion O’Grady 2015

 

Travel Tips: Solo with Keys!

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Some small hotels in Europe still use this wonderful way of keeping your keys safe.

“Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius

If you get a key that’s looks like this:  big key                                    Instead of this:                                              key

DON’T  try to put it in your pocket!  And don’t put it in your purse either!  These huge key “bobbs” are meant to take to your room and then surrender at the front desk everyday when you leave.  No lost keys!!!

And, it’s a type of communication system!  When the key is at the front desk, the chamber maid knows you’re out and can clean your room.  So 2 huge benefits, no lost keys and no unnecessary knocks on your door to see if your room needs cleaning!!

I love it.  Let’s go back to this system I say!

chamber maid keys

 

Copyright 2015 Marion O’Grady

Traveling Solo

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My best advice for your first “solo” trip is to select a place you’re familiar with.  For me, that was Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.  I had spent many Augusts vacationing on Nantucket, as a child.  It held memories and enchantment at the same time.  So this was a natural and easy first choice.  I knew that I would feel at ease on the island, while traveling alone.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”                               Abraham Lincoln            

I decided to take the “slow” ferry over from Hyannis.  The longer crossing set a relaxed pace from the start.  You’re never really alone, there are so many people everywhere you go.  But the experience of traveling on your own is truly unique.  You have the opportunity to observe more and stretch your imagination.  You are free to make your own plans and go where you want to  go, without consulting others.

You may even find that going on a vacation alone gives you more opportunity to meet other people!  At the very least, you will find that you have more time to explore your surroundings. You’re free to chose exactly what you’d like to do.  Chose a place you know you like first.  There will be plenty of chances to find new destinations, once you’ve experienced your first “A Table For One” vacation.

Copyright 2015 Marion O’Grady

Start Easy

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Great Walk…at The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in New York City.

Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir, NYC

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park, New York City

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters”                      Audrey Hepburn

My advice is to start small, but do it “big”.  For example, plan a walk at a particular time and in a particular place that is new and different.  Not for exercise, not for distance.  Simply for your own enjoyment.  This is the easiest way to begin, I think.  The purpose of your first planned walk should just be to enjoy yourself.  Try to go without any devices.  Notice everything around you.  Sounds, sights, the air.  Try to memorize all of the scenery and just let your thoughts wander wherever they want to go.  Relax and allow yourself to breathe easy.  This will be the start of your many upcoming “A Table For One” events!  Enjoy every minute of it.  You’re celebrating you!

Copyright 2015 Marion O’Grady

It Began at Antoine’s in New Orleans

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I remember clearly the first time I decided to eat dinner alone.  I was traveling alone on business.  At the time, I was in the Travel category at The New York Times.  This particular assignment became a very important one for me personally.  It was a truly challenging one. And it gave me tremendous opportunity to explore and begin the many experiences that are now core to “A Table For One”.

“May you live all the days of your life”  Jonathan Swift

Generally speaking, I had been inclined to stay put at the hotels I stayed in, if I didn’t have a client dinner.  I would sometimes order room service as an easy “out” for not pushing myself to go to a restaurant alone.  But this particular trip, I was in New Orleans for the first time.  And it was not going to be possible to ignore the unique and spectacular culinary delights of this city. New Orleans’ jazz isn’t just music, it’s also food!

My mother always spoke of the famous restaurants in New Orleans with reverence.  She insisted that I take the opportunity to enjoy the best ones on my trip.  In particular, she insisted that I go to Antoine’s for dinner and Brennan’s for brunch, where she recalled some of the best meals she had long ago.

And so I forced myself to venture past the hotel boundaries and into the French Quarter for the first fine dining experience I had ever had on my own.  It was unforgettable for many reasons. First of all, I had a very hard time forcing the words “A Table For One please”, out of my mouth. It sounded thunderously awful and as though it might draw the unwanted attention of the entire restaurant to me.  I fidgeted endlessly in what seemed to be an unending moment of silence.  Everything went blank.

And then, the maitre d’ repeated with a question mark “A Table For One?”  I said yes, please. And that was it.  He reached for a menu with great flourish, swooped up a wine list and asked me to follow him.  We headed into the dining room and he pointed to a beautiful table with a fabulous view of the room, but also discreetly located out of the way.  I could see everything without feeling awkwardly obvious as a solo diner.  Wonderful.

Not only was it a wonderful meal, the experience gave me incredible confidence to do it again and again and again.  In other cities, wherever I went on personal or business trips.  It impressed me that this experience took place in a restaurant that was so well known.  And at the time, I made a note to self that this was the best way to approach “A Table For One”.   Don’t miss an opportunity, just because you’re alone.  Find the right spot and go for it.  You will never look back.

Copyright 2015 Marion O’Grady

Welcome To A Table For One

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“A Table For One

 

I’ve become an expert of sorts at this, not by studying it, but by living it.  I’m single and I’ve travelled a lot alone throughout my business career.  Perhaps the most interesting aspect of my life is that I didn’t set out to be single.  I grew up in a big family, have lots of great friends and love being in the company of others.  The way that my life took shape was through a very busy career that kept me fully occupied and without an enormous amount of free time to socialize. And so, I forged ahead on my own and learned a lot along the way.

Here I am now, on the other end of the career spectrum and having made my life somewhat of a success.  And I find myself believing that “A Table For One” will lead me into the next chapter, with the potential to continue growing and learning and perhaps even meeting someone special to share the journey with.

The point is, it doesn’t really matter so much if you’re in a relationship with someone else or not. Being happy with yourself when you’re on your own, regardless of how that happens, is what’s even more important.  I believe it will make you more interesting to be with, because you appreciate yourself fully, for who you are.  You might be married and traveling alone.  You might be an empty-nester.  You might be single and just starting out.  You might even be recently divorced or widowed or a widower.  No matter what, you are sure to encounter times in your life when you’re alone.  Everyone does.

And I’ve got a lot of experiences to share with you, that I hope will inspire and delight you.   At the very least, I hope you will find them entertaining.  I’ve had lots of challenges, times that were very difficult on my own.  But the point is that I learned how to simply embrace the challenges and prevail.  That’s what helped me learn to set “A Table For One” and celebrate. And now, I hope you will too!