By Nathan Rice

I bought one ticket for the TobyMac concert this Sunday evening at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. I don’t know anyone who wants to attend the show with me, so I’m going alone.

Going to something alone is nothing new for me. This will be the seventh concert I’ve attended by myself in the past 12 months. I’ve also attended Tides games, cheered for the Admirals at the Scope, gone to area festivals, and enjoyed Broadway in Norfolk shows with no one other than myself.

My solo journeys have taken me to different American cities and even to a few countries overseas. The last solo overseas trip I took was to Ireland, where I traveled from Dublin to the west coast of the island with no one other than myself. I’ve done a lot of things alone, and I’m glad that I didn’t allow the fact that I had no one to go with keep me from experiencing these things.

I’ve had a lot of people tell me they could never go places and do things alone. Several have said that they wish they could but believed it just wasn’t possible. It’s as if some people think that going out alone turns them into the weirdest creature on the earth. I’ll admit that doing things alone can take some adjusting. Going out by yourself can be a little strange at first, but I have decided to enjoy the things around me, even if I must do so alone.

The first step to being able to venture out alone is getting over the fear of what other people will think about you. Many people have looked at me strangely as I bought one ticket or asked for a table for one at a restaurant, but I’m no longer bothered when they inquisitively say, “Just one?” They don’t know me or my situation, so why should I allow fear of what they think about me keep me from enjoying things? In all probability, they’ll probably forget all about me the moment I walk away.

It’s also important to think about the event you are planning on attending alone. Some things are geared more towards people attending with a group of friends. Other events or trips can be fully enjoyed when you attend by yourself. I’ve personally found that I can enjoy mid-size to larger events alone. Thousands of people at this Sunday’s concert will join me as I watch the show and cheer for the artist. Broadway shows, sports games, traveling and festivals are just some of the things I have learned that I can enjoy by myself.

Many people say, “I’d never enjoy attending something alone,” but they’ve never even given it a try. What harm can come from giving it a shot? You can always go home if you find you aren’t enjoying yourself. After all, when you attend something alone, your vote is the only one that counts.

I am in no way suggesting that anyone shut out his or her friends and start attending everything alone. Friends are great, and I have no problems with people joining me on my adventures. Sometimes, however, you find yourself in a place or situation where there is no one to join you for an outing or a show. Don’t let that stop you. There are lots of events and places that you can enjoy visiting alone.

Nathan Rice is a Hampton Roads native and can be reached at nrice@abnb.org.