Monday, March 24, 2008

The Dating Game

Whether you’re 15, 20, 30 or Fabulously40 plus, dating always seems like a task better left to someone else. And the older you get the harder it gets. After all, at 15 we are naïve, at 20 we are gullible, at 30 we are determined to find “Mr. Right,” and by 40 we become the biggest skeptics. On the other hand, how are we supposed to find Mr. Right if we don’t submit ourselves to the dating pool? Trying to find that one special man through friends and family almost never works, and blind dates get old and annoying very quickly. You know what I’m talking about. Your well-intentioned friends set you up with that “nice guy” that they swear will fill your life with love and abundance. Then you find yourself sitting across the dinner table from some insufferably self-centered slob, frantically searching your mind for a plausible excuse you can utter so he will shut up and take you home. The only thing worse is having your mother (because she hears your biological clock ticking) arrange for you to meet a friend’s son. The description starts out, “He is a very nice guy and he is tall…” and goes downhill from there. As the warning bells go off inside your head and the color drains from you face, you realize the time has come to take destiny into your own hands. So you take a deep breath, sit down at the keyboard, and type a URL that resembles something like www.findingmrrighttonight…...com. You think of a user name and password, open your online dating account, and the adventure begins. On A Mission To your surprise and amazement, you awake next morning to find your email inbox overflowing with responses. Your heart sinks as you open the first email and look at the picture of a bold, very unattractive guy who is “intrigued with your profile and wants to get to know you.” Nevertheless, you note that you have at least 30 more emails to read and plunge ahead, certain that there must be at least one prince among all the frogs. As you open one email after another, you sift through attractive, successful, ugly, funny, boring males who have exposed themselves for your review. You feel somewhat empowered and confident that “things are looking up.” As you get to the last email, you realize there are several options you can consider replying to, and maybe one or two that actually look interesting. All of a sudden you find your whole life revolving around this exciting new game of online dating. The next thing you know, you’re browsing your “matches” morning, noon and night, and are even skipping lunch to catch up on your latest online hopefuls. Your boss mentions several times that your work has slowed down.

Dating Tips

The activity you choose when you meet someone for the first time should be something you are comfortable doing. It also needs to allow conversation for you to determine if you will get together for a second date. A few top choices of dating tips are discussed here. You can have fun and be safe at the same time while dating. The first and foremost of the dating tips is to dress modestly. Your thought, speech, action, and appearance should set a good example.It is always safe to avoid dark places, parked cars or empty homes, and all other environments that might invite to trouble. Discuss the dating activities with your parents. Stay away from activities that will be a cause of embarrassment in future. Keep yourself physically and morally virtuous and worthy to enter the holy place without guilt. It is better to go on group or double dates. The first date is a nightmare in every person's life. They bring together the pressure of job interviews with the superficiality of plastic flowers. You're keen to make a good impression and at the same time skeptical about each move of your date. The level of expectation is high and the hopes and fears the guys undergo , it's no surprise that relationships break at the drop a hat these days. One of the important dating tips is to be you. Do not pretend to be someone you're not. The truth will always out eventually: Sooner is truly better than later. But it is equally important to put in your best foot forward. There is no need to be weighed down about your vulnerabilities and insecurities, or to share your past. Rather narrate the anecdotes that bring out your sweet and sparkling personality. Remember this is a twofold strategy. Every guy likes to shine in the eyes of his date by rushing in his tried and true tales. Try to be a good listener. It will give you an idea as to what his interests are. If he talks about how his ex girlfriends ditched him, imagine their side of the story. If he is wary of marriage or commitment, that's valuable information to have early on as well. Do not talk him out on his likes and dislikes. It is a good piece of information to know if he is really serious about this relationship. Never act as if this date is a life and death situation.