Meet Your Mate

These days, more and more people are finding their perfect mate on the
Internet via online dating – though a few unlucky ones are finding
their perfect online-dating sob story! What if Internet dating just
doesn’t float your boat? There are still some other excellent options
out there.

First, it’s really important to establish a positive attitude when you think about dating. You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and do something new. Once we put it out to the universe that we would like to meet someone, we can draw that person in much more quickly with somesort of conscious action that isn’t part of our usual patterns.

The real world
1. Try planning a weekly movie night. Invite friends and see who shows up – making it clear that new people are welcome to join at any time.

2. Accept every party, wedding or social networking invitation you are given, and make sure you attend.

3. Host your own party! Set it up so that each person brings a potluck dish and a solo friend. This way there will be an evenly-matched number of singles – all interested, and ready to meet someone new.

4. Try joining a volunteer organization geared only toward singles, knowing that while you are donating your time to a worthy cause, you’ll also be expanding your personal network to include like-minded individuals who are looking for a date. Who knows? They may have a friend of a friend that you’ll end up seeing.

5. Tell your friends, family or out-of-town friends that you’d love to be set up. (But of course, do give them guidelines.)

Expand your social networks
6. Don’t shy away hanging out with married couples, just because you’re single. You never know who they’ll know. Also, you’re getting out. And the pressure is off!

7. Go back to school. Take one class, or go for a degree. Many people go back to school and take classes just for fun, whereas others just want to finish a degree. Regardless, nontraditional students often seek each other out so they’ll be around others they have something in common with.

8. Subscribe to local newsletters or magazines that inform you about the latest art openings, wine tastings, new restaurants, and the like. This will give you plenty of options for things to do and see – where there’s sure to be a crowd with lots of new faces in it.

9. Start a sports team (bowling, softball) with friends or people from your workplace. Play other companies or other groups of friends – that will widen your “people network” in a hurry.

10. Try participating in a church, synagogue or other type of spiritual organization. Spiritual organizations often run events for singles. And remember – some people just get spiritual on important holidays… so don’t play hookey at the wrong time, and miss the crowds.

Remember that not having yet met your soulmate might be a blessing – all that fun, after all, lies ahead of you! There is someone out there for everyone, including you. So trust the universe and its plans, but don’t be shy about helping it out, either: no internet required!