When did people stop going on blind dates? When the dating app industry exploded. Dating apps are the most common way people find love, and while I’m happy that there is such an effective method, I can’t help but feel like the blind date got pushed aside way too quickly. Blind dates, in my opinion are still one of the best ways to meet Mr. or Ms. Right.
I feel like I hear about a new dating app every week. Bumble, Tinder, OK Cupid, Match, Grindr, e-Harmony, Coffee Meets Bagel…I could go on and on. There is also Tastebuds, which matches people up according to their music preferences; SCORE, which asks people quirky questions and matches them up based on their answers; and happen, which uses physical location habits to connect people.
While I don’t have a lot of online dating experience, I sure have a lot of dating experience and dating after divorce experience, especially blind dating experience. During my dating lifetime, which, let’s say, spans from age 20 to 50 (leaving out the 10 years I was with my ex-husband), I would say I have been set up on two- or three-dozen blind dates. Were all of the dates blissful? Hell, no.
I remember one date in the 1990s, sitting across the table from my best friend’s fiance’s friend who was wearing a vest (those were “in” at the time but really horrifying to me) and ranting his politics (which were opposite of my views) while eating chicken wings and licking his fingers. Not that fun of a night for Jackie.
That said, I would estimate that three-quarters of my dates were delightful. Some of the guys didn’t call me back because they weren’t interested, which was disappointing but didn’t make me regretful that I went, and a few of the guys ended up becoming platonic friends.
One blind date of mine went well, but there was no physical attraction on either part, so I asked him if I could set him up with one of my friends. He agreed to the idea, and they have now been married for 17 years and have two children. I also ended up dating someone for six years whom I met on a blind date. So, it can work out (although ended means it didn’t work out, but I was happy for much of it).
Here are five benefits of blind dates:
1. Meeting someone new almost always enriches a person’s life in some way.
It can be something as little as a book or movie recommendation, a weight-loss tip, or a new restaurant you just tried that can add something to your life. Even if there’s no love connection, you’ve gained something.
2. Your date might set you up with someone else.
Your chances of meeting someone significant go up every time you walk out your door. If you and your date don’t hit it off, maybe he or she will introduce you to Mr. or Mrs. Right.
Think about it. Even if it is in a serendipitous way, your bad blind date could lead you to the love of your life. For example, let’s say you are at a restaurant two months after the date and you bump into this person. He or she could be there with someone who ends up falling head over heels at the first sight of you.
3. You might have fun.
Just because you aren’t out with the perfect guy or girl for you doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time. You might find yourself laughing and enjoying yourself. Isn’t that better than sitting on your couch watching old Grey’s Anatomy episodes?
4. It’s good experience.
Going out on dates is a learning process. I believe that with every date, you get more experienced at what you liked and didn’t like about yourself on the date, what you liked and didn’t like about the other person, and what you are looking for in the future.
5. Um . . . it might just work out!
Does this even need an explanation? All right, fine. You are pinching yourself. You can’t believe this person just came into your life. It happened!
So, how do you get someone to set up a blind date? By asking people you know—married, divorced, single, men, women, family members, coworkers, friends, acquaintances, your friends’ husbands or partners, and people from the gym.
Treat blind dating as if you were searching for a new job. That means networking. You don’t have to appear desperate, just excited. Say something like, “You know I’ve been single for a while, and I think I’d like to start dating. Do you know anyone who might be interested in having coffee or a drink with me?”
You might think that people should have already thought of the idea of setting you up, but trust me, they didn’t. They have their own lives, and your love life isn’t on their radar, which is why you have to put it out there. If you ask, I can almost guarantee they will be surprised and respond, “Oh, I never thought of that. OK, sure. Let me think about it.” Some will automatically say, “I don’t know anyone,” without really even giving it much thought. Chalk that person up to just being unhappy and not a giver. In other words, don’t take anything personally.
As with job searching, networking and making things happen take time, so be patient. But if you keep asking, before you know it, you’ll have blind dates lined up. And, if you think about it, you only need one winner!
This article was originally published on ESME.
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