Be Your Own Plus-One: Stop Waiting On Your Friends!

What if you stopped waiting for other people to say yes?

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve posted a plan in the group chat—an epic weekend getaway, a cooking workshop, a concert you all love. You’ve painted a picture of the perfect outing, complete with food stops, pitstops, playlists, and, of course, photo ops. All that’s left is for everyone to say “YES.”

And then…the waiting begins.

A parade of excuses rolls in. “I need to check my leaves”, “Let me ask my boss”, “Let’s wait till next month, okay?” Your grand adventure slips into the black hole of group chat plans, where spontaneous ideas go to die.

But what if you didn’t wait? What if, instead of holding out for the perfect moment or the perfect company, you just went ahead and did it? Solo. Think about it—what’s the worst that could happen?

Worst Case: You Have the Time of Your Life

Let’s start with the “worst” case scenario here. You might actually enjoy yourself. I know, radical thought, right? You could be out there on the road, enjoying that gig, tasting those bizarre yet delicious street foods, learning to throw clay at a pottery workshop, or hiking up a new trail without the constant negotiation of 5 people’s schedules. You’ll be free to decide on a whim, to make pitstops for every quirky roadside attraction that catches your eye. Suddenly, you’re the captain of your own ship, and it’s exhilarating.

If you’re alone, every choice is yours. Wanna skip the museum and wander around town with a cone of gelato instead? Done. Feel like joining a group of fellow solo travelers you met along the way? Go for it. Without the group consensus weighing you down, the world opens up to you in unexpected ways. And the best part? You’re probably meeting way more people than you would have with your friends around.

Think of All the Things You’re Missing

While you’re sitting at home, waiting for the stars (and schedules) to align, here’s what you’re actually missing out on: The hot new pop-up you wanted to go to? Gone. That one-time-only festival in the mountains? Long past. The food, the people, the sheer experience—all missed because you were waiting for that “perfect” group trip.

If you’re constantly waiting for everyone else to be ready, you’re only getting the leftovers. And as amazing as those plans sound in theory, they’re probably never going to be as good as that thrill of just going on your own terms. Right now. The world doesn’t wait for us to catch up, to make plans, to organize. The good stuff keeps happening whether you’re there or not. So why let someone else’s schedule keep you from experiencing it all?

The Joy of Saying Yes

Here’s the thing—saying “yes” is its own adventure. If you stop waiting for other people to make your experiences happen, you’ll find that you’re capable of a lot more than you ever gave yourself credit for. You’ll meet people on the way who become as close as the friends you left back home, you’ll gain confidence, independence, and stories that only you own. You’ll be the person who went for it, who didn’t wait around for someone else to give them permission.

Because really, what’s the alternative? Sitting on your couch, refreshing your group chat, watching the clock tick by as yet another opportunity fades? Isn’t it better to have done something, even if it’s imperfect or a bit intimidating at first? The memories you’ll make, the moments you’ll have—those are the things that don’t need a group consensus. They just need you.

So, What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

What’s the worst that could happen if you stopped waiting? You might get a little lost, but you’ll find your way. You might feel awkward, but you’ll learn to love it. You might eat at a local dive alone, but you’ll discover it tastes like freedom.

So pack your bag. Book that ticket. Go to that workshop. Don’t worry about who’s coming with you or who isn’t. Because once you start moving, you’ll find that the world isn’t waiting for you to ask permission. The people, the food, the places, the experiences—they’re all out there, waiting for someone to show up.

And that someone might as well be you.

Elton Mendonce