You read your favorite romance novels, and it seems effortless. They meet; they fall in love; there is some conflict, but in the end, it all works, and everyone lives happily ever after. But romance novels are not real life. They’re an escape–an escape to dream about what could be. But true love CAN happen in real life, so how can you find it? In today’s world, many find it through online dating. Many people, however, aren’t comfortable with that and struggle with finding situations to meet other like-minded single people. Add in an increasingly distanced society with more people working from home and socializing on social media, and meeting people is more complex than ever. If you’re genuinely looking for the one, consider the options below.
Your Religious Organization
One of the best places to find a significant other is your church, synagogue, or mosque. The reason it is one of the best is that, most likely, your moral views will be similar if you both worship in the same way. If you haven’t found a place of worship for moving or other reasons, you may consider trying out new places and seeing what groups they have. Through singles groups or volunteering, you may be able to meet others and develop friendships that will turn into more.
Volunteering
And speaking of volunteering, this is a great way to meet others, even if you don’t belong to a religious organization. Many organizations need volunteers, and you can tailor your time to your interests. So even if you don’t make a love connection, at least you’ll have a good time and get that great feeling that doing for others gives you.
Ask Friends and Family
Many people are suspicious of this, but who knows you better than those closest to you? A good suggestion, however, is to ask the person they think you might be interested in being invited to a group setting. Blind dates can be so uncomfortable! Public settings allow you to consider someone by how they act around others without the pressure of knowing they are on a “date,” it is more of an opportunity to see them in action.
Join an Interest Group
Are you a runner? Join a running club. Maybe you’re into rock climbing; there are clubs for that too. Look around your area for what you like and see if any public groups meet regularly and go. Yes, it’s difficult to go alone. It may seem, at first, as if everyone knows everyone else and you’re the odd one out. But keep going, and before you know it, you’ll be one of the group too. Who knows? You may find a fellow bird-watching fanatic and that elusive bird you’ve wanted to catch a glimpse of forever.
Be Your Own Hostess/Host
Do you have some friends and family you can invite over? Do they have friends? Have a party! Some people love to throw parties, and if you’re one of them, go for it. Throw a party and encourage your friends to bring their friends. Create an atmosphere where your crew feels comfortable bringing others because your galas are always a blast.
Be Yourself
Whatever you are doing, don’t be afraid to be yourself. Never pretend to be anyone else because a relationship based on that will fail anyway. And don’t be scared to chat with strangers you might see in a coffee shop, at the store, in the park, etc. You never know what a smile and a compliment can lead to.
As They Say, When You’re Least Looking…
True love always seems to be a surprise. It always seems to happen when we’re not looking for it. But it certainly isn’t going to happen if we aren’t, among others, doing things that make us happy. No one will happen upon your door by accident, knock, and instantly fall in love with you. That’s the thing with romance novels, and it’s a weak plot even for those. The more you enrich your life by filling it with activities you enjoy, the more people you will meet. And the more people you meet will increase your chances of finding the one who is right for you. So as difficult as it may be to start putting yourself out there in the world, take a chance. When you are happy, happiness will find you.
