What's worse than being single?

 

What's worse than being single when you want a partner?  Why, being single and not being able to snag a date, of course.

 

You think you've got it all down pat.  You've got the dream job, the nice pad, the flexible hours of not having to dash off in a mad rush to beat deadlines mid-date, and yet, one Friday night (or better, yet any day of the week night) you realized that there wouldn't be much to interrupt even if your boss demanded you pull an all-nighter in the office.  Of course you could participate in online dating from work, but that might get you fired.  Being part of the singles group at work can be fun but stressful.

 

This isn't high school, where you've got girlfriends who'll tell you that boys can wait, and just because you got stuck reviewing for the math decathlon doesn't mean you're really a wallflower. And this isn't college, when your study mates have assured you that THOSE girls sure wouldn't think about all those hunky corporate men when they realize they couldn't get into business school.  By the time you've seen the light, your co-wallflowers have settled down nicely with average joes, and your college mates have been juggling corporate work and corporate men that they'd have made the phrase multi-tasking blush in shame.  Turning to dating services is always an option but it does not have to be first on your list.

 

So, is it your fault that you've focused more on climbing the corporate ladder rather than scoping out "The Eligibles"? Of course, not.  And is it your fault that you've given dear Aunt Mildred too much of your schedule while she waited around for her retirement plans to push through? Bless you, of course not.  However, if you expect that you'll get all the man-blessings from the heavens just because you pulled a good 'ol Samaritan maneuver without having to flex your dating muscles, you may as well start stacking up on the rented videos, pronto.

 

Given that you've been away from the pool too long, you'd better treat this like the sport it's usually referred to. Time to start warming up.

 

Suit up

 

Are you ready for this? Have you moved on from your tragic love affairs of Christmas past and acknowledged to yourself that should you meet another blue-eyed blonde of a man, you'd refrain from asking him if he's really a liar in disguise? If you can shrug off all past issues and chalk it up to experience, then you're ready to get back in the game.

 

Streeeeeeetch

 

Make a fair estimate of how far you're willing to go to land a date. Are you ready to sign up on dating sites and see what happens? Are you ready to sound the alarm and tell your impatient girlfriends that, "Yes! So I want someone to give me backrubs, too. Big deal"? Take note of how many avenues are open, and just how much you're willing to explore. Do your research as if this is a really big business venture. Well, actually, you'll be making a very big investment that concerns yourself. Isn't that worth all the meticulous planning only a woman on the prowl can truly subject it to?

 

Get into position

 

Take a good long look at yourself. First, in the mirror. What do you see? Are you in shape? Take note that "being in shape" is a relative term. If you can sashay off to a date with no ounce of insecurity, then you're good to go. Next look, what are your parameters? Are you okay with meeting with blind dates or would you prefer to go the online route first? If you've been out of the dating scene for far too long, you might want to take step by cautious step. There are still a lot of weirdoes out there, and it's better to be safe than stalked, harassed, or grossed out.

 

Dive right in

 

Who can really say dating isn't easy?  It is.  Just be honest with yourself and know your limitations.  Just as a real estate agent would say, "Location, location, location!" drill into your mind that it's always "Network, network, network!" Get the word out there, keep the faith, and stay safe.  Think about it this way - right at this moment, there are hundreds and hundreds of people out there who could possibly be reading this article or one just like it.   At the exact moment that you decide that you're going to do this, so could they. What are the odds that you could meet one of them?  Why, a lot!  And if you need more online dating tips your search engine can be a wonderful help.

 

Written By: Jane Eslong - Staff Writer, www.TopUrlSearch.com