Are you willing to dance alone?

Well, laughing at me.

Story goes back to a few years ago when we were dating, snuggled up on the couch watching “Dancing With the Stars.” He sweetly asked me, “Would you ever want to take ballroom dance lessons?”

I thought about it a second and said, “You mean, together?”

He still howls at this because, as he points out, how else do you take ballroom dance lessons? Who takes ballroom dance lessons alone?

Uh, that would be me.

When you’re single as long as I was, when you constantly picked guys who didn’t do more than toss a few cookie crumbs of their time your way, you learn to do a lot of stuff by yourself.

Yes, including sign up for ballroom dance lessons.

I got thinking about this the other days when I came across this study that confirms Husband’s theory that he married a different bird. A business professor at the University of Maryland says Americans are not going out if that means having to go out alone.

Does this sound like you, Dear Reader?

Where do you draw your line in the comfort-zone sand?

Would you go out to a restaurant by yourself? To a movie? Take dance lessons?

According to this study, most of you won’t if it means going solo.

The reason?

You’re too worried about what other people would think when they see you out by yourself.

Here’s the punch line on that one: Another study shows people aren’t watching you. They’re not judging you, probably because they’re too busy being self-conscious about what people are thinking about them.

Seems to me, we all have some kind of challenge to overcome to live our lives more fully.

For me, it has been getting used to a whole cookie kind of guy. A man who wants to spend a lot of time with me and go do stuff.

Yes, together.

They really do make guys like that. Who knew? Certainly not me until well into my 40s.

And you?

You need to get over yourself and those imaginary people who, I promise, will not be judging you if you get out there by yourself for dinner, a movie or even dance lessons.

And then there’s this: When that hottie instructor is twirling you across the dance floor as the music makes a symphony in your heart, the last thing you will be thinking about is being alone.

I know because I’ve certainly danced that dance.

The last laugh is going to be all yours.