Senior Dating: How to Overcome the Jitters of a First Date

No matter your age, the contemplation of getting into the dating arena can be stressful; but as a senior citizen the thought can be even more so. Many seniors have lived a lifetime with one person and then one day find themselves thinking about dating again after losing a spouse or partner through divorce or death. Many people that are considering dating again, after a long relationship, are a little insecure. Seniors are not so different than anyone else really, it's just that they are more aware that their physical appearance may not be what it was a decade or two before.

Just for fun I wrote down some of my own thoughts that go through my mind when meeting a man for the first time. I have the same anxieties many other people of my age and older have.

I'm too old

I'm too heavy

I'm too out of shape

I'm too wrinkled

I don't know how to date anymore

I don't know how to flirt anymore

I don't know what will be expected of me

I'm scared of rejection

I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself

I'm afraid of what my date will think of me

No matter how young or how old we are, we all may have the same thoughts running through our minds at one time or another. When dating for the first time in a long time, there are some guidelines you might want to take note of when meeting someone for the first time.

Make your first date a meet and greet. Let it be over a coffee or a coke, or a light lunch date and some fun activity, rather than an evening date. A dinner date might be suggestive of a more romantic setting.

When meeting someone for the first time, meet at a public place.

If you don't feel comfortable on the first meet, listen to your inner voice, and leave yourself an out.

Always tell someone where you are going, just for the sake of safety. Chances are everything will go well, but you never know.

Never tell a complete stranger where you live. If you make a second or third date, you more than likely have built some level of trust, there is time then to reveal where you live and make an invitation.

When I go on a first date with someone, I go for the meet and greet, and then if we click, we might go to a flea market and walk around, or we might decide to do some other activity that we both like. Doing things of mutual interest helps move things along to a second and third date and even a possible relationship. I find it easier to get to know my date when we are enjoying the day, and since it isn't easy getting to know a complete stranger over dinner at a fine restaurant, I just try to suggest fun things to do. For me, playing a game of Putt-Putt is a lot more fun than trying to make idle chat with a complete stranger over dinner.

All the dating tips I listed above could be for anyone at any age. The issues of dating in your senior years seem scary, but everyone has nearly the same issues. The issues common to seniors are common to most people. Some may be different, but we all have issues. After the ice is broken and you find out the other person has the same insecurities that you do, you can just get on to being friends and maybe more as time progresses. Don't look down on yourself. Chances are you are the only one thinking you're not attractive enough or young enough. Chances are your date will think you are the most charming person he/she has ever met.

Source:

http://seniorliving.about.com/od/sexromance/a/seniordatingFD1.htm