5 DATING TIPS FOR DIVORCEES – IN GENEVA
by Nicole Richmond
Getting divorce sucks. Being divorced does not. Allow me to add a tiny caveat to that previous statement. Being free of a relationship that no longer serves you and having the freedom to rediscover yourself, most certainly does not suck. However, dating after divorce can be tricky. Even more so if you happen to live in Geneva, where the locals are notoriously standoffish… though I did end up finding a good selection of dates post apocalypse/divorce.
To say that it has been interesting would be the understatement of the century. It has been a full-on adventure, I was a fish out of water. Decades had passed since the last time I was on the dating scene, and it had significantly changed. Hello smart phones and dating apps. I prepared myself as best as I could, but let’s be honest, dating in this new digital era is not something you can truly prepare for. You have to dive right in, and so I did. I have found the following tips to be quite helpful while navigating the rough seas of dating.
DOWNLOAD A DATING APP
Unfortunately, long gone are the days where you might actually bump into a potential mate while doing any number of random activities. I know for some of us of a certain age the idea of finding a mate by swiping through a stack of photos is ludicrous. But, it is what it is and this is dating in 2019.We spend so much of lives online anyway. Might as well give it a try.
BE OPEN
Do find yourself always attracted to the same type of person? How has that worked out for you? In my opinion, this is the major benefit of these apps. You have at your fingertips hundreds of potential matches that you would have never encountered as you go about your day. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Variety is the spice of life.
HAVE A PLAN
As with all things in life a little planning goes a long way. I do not mean planning out every minute of your upcoming date. Rather, I mean know what it is you are interested in and are looking for. After all, you have just come out on the other side of a divorce. Know your boundaries. Are you looking for adventures and good times? Are you looking for a serious long-term relationship? Or do you just want to meet new people? Whatever it is you are interested in, there is something out there for everyone, trust me. Asking and answering these questions will make it that much easier for you to decipher all the noise the apps can create.
DRESS THE PART
This should go without saying, but I will say it anyway. You only get one chance to make a first impression. I get it life can be rough and some days are better than others but if have accepted a date with someone, please put some effort into your appearance. It shows that you care about yourself and that you are keen to make a lasting impression. You would be surprised by what a little lipstick and a sassy outfit can do to boost your confidence.
BE YOURSELF
As Oscar Wilde so cleverly pointed out, “everyone else is already taken.” Here you are, single and ready to mingle. I am sure you learned some important life lessons while wading through Separation Lake and Divorce Sea. If you learned anything, I hope it is this: you are ENOUGH! For whatever reason, you have been given another chance to find a mate. Do you really want to waste it pretending to be someone you are not? It never works out. It requires too much energy to maintain. You are unique. You are magic. You are YOU and that is your superpower. There is somebody out there just waiting for you, exactly as you are.
Nicole’s first book: Making a stylish exit – random stories of dating after divorce – will be available from Bon Genie in Geneva in November.
