As I heal from betrayal, I realize a hard part was relearning how to enjoy my own company. I started small, with something that used to terrify me: sitting alone in a restaurant. At first, those meals felt awkward, like I had to prove something to myself. But over time, they shifted. They weren’t just meals anymore — they became dates with me.

I’ve always loved theater and Broadway, but somewhere along the way, I’d stopped going. Then came the “Reframe-Reset-Redesign” date — and those Harry Potter tickets — and it was like a door swung open. Suddenly, I was back in a world that made my heart light up.

One Sunday morning, on a whim, I opened the TodayTix app and entered the rush ticket lottery for & Juliet. I won. A quick text to arrange a later pickup for the kids, and I was off to the matinee. As a millennial, the music had me grinning ear to ear, and the storyline was exactly what I needed that day — a reminder that no matter what, everything was going to be okay.

The weekend before Mother’s Day, I took my self-dating to the next level. I planned an entire “Mommy’s Day Out.” I grabbed the train into the city and went where my mood led me — scoring box office rush tickets to Redwood and Death Becomes Her, wandering the Bryant Park flea market, and losing myself in the magic of the New York Public Library. I ended the day with a solo dinner and a good book as my date.

That day wasn’t just fun — it was restorative. By giving myself that time, I came into Mother’s Day feeling grounded and joyful. I could be fully present for my kids, letting them celebrate me in their own ways, without feeling depleted.

Dating yourself may seem foolish. But it’s an act of self-love, a declaration that you deserve joy without waiting for someone else to give it to you. Whether it’s a matinee ticket, a meal for one, or a whole day of exploring, your company can be the best company you keep.