Dinner With Strangers — and a Side of Self-Love
Hosted by @biggerthingsclub at Good Times Pasta Bar, Fitzroy North
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down for dinner with a group of complete strangers? No familiar faces, no safety net, just you, a table full of randoms, and an open mind. I never really have. But last night, I found out…
To be completely honest, this experience was wayyyy out of character for me. I’m a creature of habit. I thrive on structure, I like rhythm, routine, and a roadmap. Spontaneity? It stresses me out. Surprises? Not my thing (Like I fully breakout in acne it’s not a cute look). But this year, I made a promise to myself: I want to try new things. I want to meet new people. Even if it scares me. Especially if it scares me. And most importantly, I want to show up as me—authentically, unapologetically.
So, when I stumbled across a TikTok from the @biggerthingsclub social page promoting a dinner party at Good Times Pasta Bar in Fitzroy North (which has actually been bookmarked for awhile now), something inside me said, “should I…” So, I did. I signed up on a whim—and then shoved the thought deep into the back of my mind.
Life was already feeling crazy overwhelming. I had just started a new job, with new people, in an entirely new field. Every day felt like a balancing act between growth and discomfort. When the event popped up on my calendar, I heavily considered not going—Even after I’d driven forty minutes through peak hour Melbourne traffic and parked my car… I was still weighing my options. I felt nervous, intimidated, and honestly, a little sick. The fear of the unknown had a tight grip on me. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know what the vibe would be. And for someone like me—someone who needs certainty—that was terrifying.
My brain ran through a hundred “what if” scenarios.
What if it’s awkward? What if I don’t connect with anyone? What if everyone else already knows each other and this is a prank?
But then a more rational voice in me, the one of reason, reminded me:
“Liz, you can’t grow if you back out of every opportunity that makes you uncomfortable. You said you wanted to do new things. This is one of them.”
So I gave myself a stern pep talk in the car:
“Worst case? You have a mediocre meal and an awkward night. You Irish goodbye and go home. Best case? You have a great time and walk away with a story.”
Outside the restaurant, the sidewalk was buzzing. Friends were laughing over pasta, couples on first dates leaned in close (idk about this but to set the scene I’m leaving it in), and just out front stood a small group of people chatting amongst themselves. Thankfully, the event had a black-and-white or polka dot theme, which made it easy to identify my group and avoid aimlessly reading the menu to kill time. Even then, I hesitated. I nearly walked away. But instead, I took a deep breath, smiled, and introduced myself.
The people were warm and welcoming—open-hearted strangers from different walks of life, all drawn to the same thing: connection. We sat at a long table, drank wine, passed around plates of cheeses and garlic bread, and just talked. About work, life, love, fears, passions, art, our hometowns, random obsessions, everything. We laughed, gossiped, swapped stories like old friends. And I realised something beautiful: most of them had come alone, too (duh). I wasn’t the odd one out—I was one of many sat at this table who had taken a chance on the unknown.
And just like that, I stopped feeling like a stranger.
As the night wore on, I found myself thinking, “I’m so glad I came. I needed this.” I spoke with women my age who inspired me, women with different stories but the same courage and confidence to show up and say yes to something new - especially in our current climate it can be risky to do so. We connected. We related. We were human with each other in the most genuine way. There was no pressure to perform, to impress, to be anything other than yourself!
When I woke up this morning, I felt different. Calmer. Lighter. Braver. More me. It was the same feeling I had after running my first 10K—a pride in doing something that once felt impossible and scary. I stepped so far out of my comfort zone last night, and I didn’t just survive it—I loved it. I didn’t flake. I didn’t retreat. I leaned in, I showed up, and I had a damn good time.
Whatever happened, something shifted in me. I proved to myself, once again, that I can do hard things. I can trust myself. I can take risks and let life surprise me and fill my own damn cup! AND—I will absolutely be doing it again.
Because sometimes, the best things come from saying yes to the unexpected, I truly am grateful for the work that @biggerthingsclub do in creating these safe spaces for human connection — if you have considered doing something like this I highly highly recommend and if you are scared to go it alone, bring a friend - bring me!
Love,
Liz xx
