In 1997 I stumbled across an on line personals website & my curiosity got the best of me. At the time, I was a successful single parent that really was not searching for a relationship. However – there was something intriguing about this website, it had people from all over looking for?someone to spend time with, some one to love, some one to be friends with, some one wanting to find their SoulMate. At the age of 30, I was already past the bar scene & had no luck meeting anyone in my day to day routine. Not to mention I was tired of meeting people that just liked the pretty face & not interested in my mind. I wanted some one to get to know me first intellectually before meeting me physically.

So I took a leap of faith & decided to look around & see who had posted a personal ad. The fun part was I got to select everything about them; where they lived, if they had children, if they smoked, their body type, what they did for a living & so much more. In actual fact, I jokingly thought it is like ‘Shopping for a Man!’ I put in my order & viola, up popped a handful of people that matched what I was looking for. I realized that it pulled up the ‘Cream of the Crop’ & really streamlined my experience to only those I wanted to meet. I myself made the first move to connect with them, spent time getting to know them through email then talked on the phone. If we had great conversation & had things in common, we had exchange photos. Eventually, I met a couple of men in person to see if there were any sparks. Unfortunately, I was a little discouraged but decided the 3rd times a charm & I could meet Mr. Charming! If not, strike three & I am out.

On my third attempt, I agreed to meet this man at a local restaurant & I knew instantly that I wanted to spend more time getting to know this person. In actual fact, the feeling was mutual & within 5 weeks he proposed to me! We have been married now for almost 8 years & I owe it all to an on line personals website.

Here are my top 5 reasons to consider on line dating:

1. The Selection ? If you have used Google or other Search Engines, you know that you can find what you are searching for fairly rapidly by the keywords you use. Online dating companies use a similar tool to search their profiles. If you are serious about meeting someone, does not it make sense to be in a ‘target rich’ environment?

2. It’s Fast ? Almost virtually everyone that has taken the time to post a profile is committed to finding some one special. Instead of waiting to bump into some one in the grocery store & playing Russian Roulette, you can instantly find some one that is compatible with your needs & wants.

3. Affordable ? The cost involved is considerably lower when you think of the number of blind dates you go on, the time you invest & the cost of dinner involved, especially if you are buying! Considering other options like joining a video dating service or other singles organizations, on line dating is very cost effective.

4. Intelligent ? In my opinion, the people I meet on line tend to be higher on the intellectual scale then folks I had bump into at random. You can learn a lot about a person by their style of communication. Do they send emails loaded with typos or are they well written & thought out? Do they feel trustworthy or deceitful?

5. Privacy ? The fact that you can hop on line in the privacy of your home makes this very confidential. No one needs to know where you meet Mr. or Mrs. Right unless you want to tell them. You can be the person doing the selecting, putting you in full control or post a profile within the community & watch who comes to you… Either way, the fact that it is done privately gives you more confidence than going out with a sign that says, ‘Hey, I am Single?Wanna date me?’

When you consider the various ways people meet their companion; high school or college sweethearts, office romance, night clubs, friends trying to be matchmakers, etc. Doesn’t it make sense to attempt something as simple as on line dating? I know it made perfect sense to me & I highly recommend giving it a attempt for yourself. Keep in mind there will still be a sorting process & you will need a little patience but before long you will connect with someone. Remember, these people are not any different from those you will meet offline but use your common sense & read between the lines. Learn as much as you can about someone, meet in a public place (I recommend meeting for coffee) & most of all be open to finding your SoulMate!

Darlene Willman owns & manages 3 businesses & takes care of 2 children. Writing has always been her passion & she encourages others to find their strengths & talents. Darlene appreciates the resources available on the internet & enjoys sharing articles about her various experiences. Her life’s mission is to educate, support & encourage other people to achieve their goals & as a result will reach her own.

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