Thinking of trying online dating? Read this first! Knowing what to expect may give you the courage and the knowledge you need to find your special someone.
Today, more and more people are considering online dating. Why not? The computer links us all and people can't seem to get enough. We shop online for everything these days from clothes, household items, cars, homes, whatever it is we need, we can get it online. So, why not love? There are many sites dedicated to match making and they are very reputable. Many success stories and great testimonials to support their services. You fill out a personality profile, explain what you are looking for, download your best pictures (optional), pay a membership fee and you are ready to go, right? Many of us gain the courage to do this because we were encouraged by friends or family members who want us to be happy, and find that special someone to share life with. Loneliness is no fun and we all long for great companionship. This is why we even consider putting ourselves out there for others to get to know. Those of you taking the time to read this are the more conservative types who want to gain as much knowlege as you can before you attempt to find your match. Nothing wrong with that, this article is designed to educate those of you who are considering an online quest for love.
Before you begin, ask yourself these very important questions. Who am I? What is it that I'm looking for? What will it take to complete me? Why am I in need of companionship and love? What does love mean to me? Am I ready for a relationship? Knowing yourself and answering these questions truthfully will help increase your success with online dating. Many of us act without thinking. I like to call this the "JUST DO IT" concept. "I need someone in my life, I hate being alone, so why not try to find an attractive individual to fill this void. " After a meeting or two or three... we take a step back and start to wonder if there are any normal people out there. Why are the people I meet not right for me? Many of them are not "right" at all! If you don't take the time to get to know yourself first, finding someone can seem impossible. Really knowing who you are and what you are looking for is the first step.
If you have ever tried your luck at online dating, you'll know what I'm about to say is true. If you haven't listen closely. Once you have filled out a personality profile and put yourself out there for others to learn more about you, the next step is reading about them. What are their likes and dislikes? What are they looking for? Who are they? How do you fit in with them and their lifestyle? Are you compatible? There are certain profiles you will know right away you do not want to persue. Majority of them will sound very familiar. Many of these sites have key words that you can choose to describe yourself. Words like, LOYALTY, PASSIONATE, AFFECTIONATE, KINDNESS, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, FUN, ENERGETIC, ATTRACTIVE, PHYSICALLY FIT, SOCIAL, WELL EDUCATED, SPIRITUAL, and the list goes on and on... How many of these words can you say describes you? Just how acurate are these profiles? After reading a few, you get the idea that we are all looking for the same things, just worded a little differently. It seems a lot of us like the outdoors, whether to garden, hike and explore, or just to feel the sand between our toes. We love dining out, going to the movies, grilling out, entertaining, and snuggling up by the fire on a cold or rainy day. All of us have similar ideas about "love" and "romance". These ideas and images are all around us. Advertisements, TV shows, love stories, movies, all influence the way we view love and romance. So, how can we really get to know someone online? There is no secret, you can't!
Don't get discouraged! Is it worth trying? YES! How can we get to know anyone, whether online or not? If a great friend or someone you know introduces you to a stranger, how do you get to know them? Hopefully, by asking a lot of questions and then spending quality time with that person. Eventually, you'll know after a few meetings whether or not the two of you are compatible. It's no different online. So many of us are on the computer now, whether at work or at home, we spend a lot of time online. Online dating is just another place to meet people looking for the same things. Is it safe? Only if you make it that way. Always meet at a busy restaurant or public place the 1st time, drive separate cars, tell a good friend where you are going and something about your date and go from there. It makes no difference if you met online or offline. Online dating can be used as a filter as long as the individuals are truthful. You are all on the site to meet and strike up a relationship if all goes well. That is the given. Meeting offline individuals can be even more dangerous or misleading because usually the physical attraction is there and the chemistry, which combined can blind us or tamper with our judgement. Many of the sites monitor the first few stages of communication. Find a profile you are interested in and a photo of an individual you are attracted to and begin your journey towards a fulfilling relationship.
I'd like to leave my readers with the courage to take the journey towards finding companionship and love online. Knowing that finding true love is difficult no matter what method is used has to be realized. Some of us go through life not finding it at all and not wanting to, but for many of us the quest for love makes life worth living. Good luck!!!
