Setting a Table for One: Curating Contentment and Joy in Everyday Rituals
I live alone, and I honestly love it most days. I love creating my own little haven and making it special for my daily life. I think my readers know by now that I love vintage dishes and setting a beautiful table. And living alone doesn’t mean that I should skip out on that or save it only for guests. So, I’ve created for myself a cherished ritual — the ritual of setting my table just for me and my own enjoyment. I use my beautiful dishes, silverware and glassware that I inherited or collected, and it adds beauty and joy to my day. Doing little things like this also helps me create a sense of contentment with the life I have and get to lead.
The Power of Everyday Rituals
I’ve discussed a bit before on the blog how much I value rituals in my life. I truly think rituals might be the secret to living well. Small acts like setting the table are about much more than aesthetics. To me, they are acts of intention and love for myself and my life. Alexandra Stoddard says that “Creating daily rituals — making daily tasks into times of enrichment through planning and special personal details — is a way to live a richer, more satisfying life.” And I couldn’t agree more. Rituals have the power to make life more joyful. They have the power to create contentment. And they have the power to instill deeper satisfaction within your current reality. The loving rituals I’ve created for myself contribute to my overall wellbeing — especially in times when I feel I need a little more comfort, relief and joy. I can’t not smile when I bring out my pretty dishes as they almost all tie to a special memory or a special person.
Finding Beauty in Solo Moments
Dining solo does not have to mean quick, thrown-together meals. It just takes a little intention and maybe a little planning. Dining solo can actually be a nurturing experience and an opportunity to slow down and be present with yourself. I enjoy sitting at my table for my evening meals and just savoring the experience. Making the setting beautiful doesn’t hurt the experience, for sure!
I want to encourage my readers — especially single women — that you, too, can live an abundant life and find beauty in everyday, even solo. Rituals like setting the table, having a nurturing morning routine, etc. allow for abundant living whether you or single or not. Embrace the moments and create for yourself joyful rituals that curate the contentment you desire.
How to Start Your Own Table-for-One Ritual
It’s not really hard to start your own table-for-one ritual. I find it best to have a routine in the evenings that includes cooking a meal and setting the table while the meal is cooking. Here are some of the things I consider when picking out my table accoutrements.
My Mood:
Do I need to relax? If so, I might pick soothing colors and textiles. Do I want to induce joy? In that case, I will add something sentimental like my grandmother’s butter dish to the table or a favorite vintage pattern. Or I might use brightly colored textiles. If I feel a little distracted, I might go outside and clip some yard flowers to bring the outside in. This seems to always calm and “center” me.
What I’m Eating:
I select the dishes that are most practical for the meal I’m preparing. I love a good shallow bowl, like a pasta bowl, since I often make one-pot skillet dinners that work well in these types of bowls.
How Much Time I Have:
If I’m pressed for time or don’t feel like spending too much time on the clean up, I make sure to only use my dishwasher-friendly pieces.
Start simple and make it your on. There are endless ways you can make the meals you eat alone an enjoyable experience for yourself. Focus on treating yourself like you would a dinner guest! This small ritual can be a way you can create a more intentional, joyful and abundant life. Joy doesn’t always come from big celebrations. It comes from the beauty you create in your everyday life.
What small rituals bring you joy in your daily life?
*Some photo resources linked here (commissionable link).