Dating over 50

Just because you are over 50, it doesn't mean that you can't date!

Remember when you say "I wish I knew what I know now when I was 18..." Well, you do know now! So put it to good use and carry on living. Dating and flirting makes you feel younger, makes you feel alive.

Find new friends here.

http://www.datingover50uk.com

Four Essential Mature Online Dating Tips

Online Dating is quickly becoming one of the best ways for mature daters to find love. It’s convenient, confidential and gives you the chance to meet people you might never have crossed paths with otherwise. Online Dating shouldn’t be complicated or confusing. Use our tips below to get the most our of your online dating experience!

Choose the right online dating site for you. Before you take the plunge and sign up for an online dating site, it’s important to consider which site you’re going to use. Different dating sites cater to different types of people based on their lifestyles or preferences. Other sites do the matching for you, which is great if you trust their system, but not so good if you want a more hands on approach. Do your research, and ask friends and family what sites they might recommend. Plus, don’t forget that you aren’t limited to one site and one site only! Since most allow members to sign up for free, try out a few different online dating sites before you upgrade to the paid option.

Keep an open mind. One of the most exciting things about mature dating is how drastically different the dating landscape is now versus how it was the last time you were single. At the beginning, it can take some adjusting to. While things aren’t going to be the same as they used to be, it’s quite possible that you will like the dating playing field better. Maintaining an open mind is crucial to getting the most out of your online dating experience. Don’t dwell on the past, instead focus on the future with an open mind and heart.

Put effort into your profile. Your online dating profile is the first impression you can make on a potential date, so spend some time perfecting it! Answer the questions honestly and thoughtfully, and inject parts of your personality whenever possible. The goal is to show the world who you are and what you’re about through your profile. When it comes to choosing the right profile photo, select images that honestly reflect what you look like right now. Of course, we’d all love to put up photos from when we were twenty years younger or lighter, but ultimately that will do you more harm than good.  Since you want to go out on real life dates with the people you meet online, it’s best to be honest about your physical appearance from the start.

Speak up. Now that you’ve selected the best site for you and created the perfect profile, some mature daters think all they need to do is sit back, relax and wait for the flood of emails from interested singles to come in. Sure, you could do this…but you might be waiting for a while! With online dating, you sit in the drivers seat. If you come across someone’s profile who looks interesting and attractive, there should be nothing stopping you from sending them a message. Women sometimes feel that they need to wait for a man to make the first move, but with online dating there is no waiting necessary. Most men would be thrilled that a woman took the initiative to say hello. Be an active participant on your online dating site. Reply to messages, send winks or be available to instant message with other members.

Online dating is a rewarding journey. Every single day is exciting simply because you never know who you are going to see when you log on. Above all else, remember one important thing. The more you put into your mature online dating experience, the better your results will be!

Thanks to Mature Dating Talk for the article.

The Wedding Party

We're going to a friends wedding party tonight, so should be in for a great time!

But it does make me stop and think of all the single people out there this Bank Holiday weekend. These extended breaks can really drag on if you've no one special to share them with.

But it doesn't have to be this way you know. Online dating allows you to search locally for a new date, and gives you the chance to find out if they are likely to be compatible with you. All from the comfort of your own home! Once you see someone you like, you can start an online conversation and find out even more about them! If it feels right, arrange to meet up for a coffee - and you're dating again!

http://www.datingover50uk.com

Men Over 50 -- May I Give You Some Dating Advice?

I've been dabbling in online dating, and I'm actually enjoying it. I realize that my enjoyment goes hand in hand with not having anything at stake, no enormous expectations. I'm not looking to replace my beloved husband, who died in 2008. (That would be impossible.) I don't need to find someone to give my life meaning and joy, because my life already has meaning and joy.

I do want to bring more male energy into my life, get to know men who are not already in my sphere of friends, enjoy a new companion. There's a lot of joie de vivre in me, and I'd like to share that. If it results in connecting with someone and rocking each other's world, that's a big bonus.

I wrote this comment on a message board for women over 50 in response to one person who was scared to date:

If you think of dating as your way to learn about another person and about yourself without risking anything, it can be fun -- go for coffee or a walk or dinner with someone new, talk, see what you both enjoy discussing and doing. It's when you think of dating as auditioning a potential soulmate that it becomes fraught with anxiety, unpleasantness, and emotional danger.

I really enjoy first dates. I'm interested in learning what we do and don't have in common, and which of the divergences matter a lot. Plus, the writer in me loves hearing people's stories, and first dates are a great way to learn a huge amount in an hour, because it's expected that we share our stories.

Although I'm newly dating after 12 years, I already have some strong opinions about online dating do's and don't's. Here are a few, aimed at men because that's my experience. Are the same true of women, or are there other things that women typically do that irk you?

Advice for Men about Profile Photos

1. Please use a current image as your default photo. It's fine to include older photos also -- I love to see the long, bushy hair you wore in 1969! -- but label them with the year (if your site permits captions), and make those secondary photos, not your main one.
2. Include at least one recently taken close-up of your face. Do. Not. Wear. Sunglasses. I can't tell you how many profiles I skip over because the man is wearing sunglasses. I need to see your eyes.
3. Make your default photo just you -- no buddies on a fishing trip, no arms around a woman who might be your daughter or maybe your ex-wife, and absolutely no edited photo with the woman at your side cropped out (we can tell)!

Advice about Your Profiles

1. Please give your real age and body build. If we'll eliminate you if you're older or heavier than attracts us, so be it -- that would happen once we met anyway. By the way, I'm learning that "average" build/body type can mean 30-50 pounds overweight. Is it true for women's profiles, too, guys?
2. I love it when men 50+ are looking for women their age and even older, but some of you say you're seeking to date women who are at least 10 years your junior. Is that simply an attraction thing? Or are you ruling out vibrant women your age for some reason I don't understand? Sometimes I write men with this question, and occasionally it leads a man to change his upper limit requirement! Mostly, though, they don't answer.
3. I really respect those of you who give me a courtesy of a "no thank you" if I write you first and you're not interested. I see you as polite and compassionate when you write something like "Thank you for writing, but I don't see us as a match. Best wishes...." rather than not answering at all.

Advice For When We Meet

1. Be yourself, be truthful, tell me about yourself -- and I'll do the same. That doesn't mean dumping details of your last health exam or therapy session, but take the opportunity to show me who you really are and what matters to you. We're too old to play the I'll-try-to-appear-to-be-who-you-want-me-to-be game.
2. Please also try to learn about me. If you do all the talking and don't ask me any questions, I don't know if it's nervousness or that you don't care who I am. As interesting as you may be, a monologue absolutely rules out a second date.
3. If we've gone out to dinner, I won't assume you'll pay because you're a man -- I'll offer to share the expense. If you prefer to pick up the check, tell me with a smile, and I'll accept with thanks. But please don't make a face, shudder, and tell me how much you hate "women's libbers" who "act like men." No kidding, someone did that. He's a very nice man and we had good conversation over dinner, but clearly our values and opinions don't match enough for a second date.

I know that none of this advice applies only to people over 50 (except maybe for the 1969 hairstyle), but those of us who are starting to date again at this age may feel that all the rules have changed since we last did this. And they're right!

====
Ageless sexuality advocate Joan Price is the author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex and Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty.Naked at Our Age won Outstanding Self-Help Book 2012 from the American Society of Journalists and Authors and Best Book 2012 from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. Joan edited the new steamy senior sex anthology,Ageless Erotica. Visit her zesty, award-winning blog about sex and aging athttp://www.NakedAtOurAge.com, where Joan continues to talk out loud about Boomer/ senior sex, partnered or solo.

Is It All About Sex?

For mature daters, re-entering the dating game can be a shocking and intimidating experience.  Most likely, you've been in serious, long term relationships or have been married - so you haven’t had to worry about things like first dates or when to sleep with someone for the first time…and it can seem like sex is everywhere.

There is also a lot of pressure to keep up with other women, but always remember - just because some woman will sleep with a guy on date number two doesn't mean you need to…or he even really wants you to.

If you've been out of practice for awhile, here’s a little refresher course!  Men thrive on attraction and love a good challenge, so giving it all up at the beginning quickly bores him.  Some women believe that the only way to get a guy to call them again is to get physical too soon…these are the women who usually end  up waiting by the phone wondering why he disappeared.

Men are able to separate sex and emotions, where women have more of a difficult time doing this-it’s just how we are wired.  Spark his attraction by posing a challenge and by not letting him get what he wants, at least not right away.  You can be sexy without resorting to sex, and any man worth your time realizes this. Making him wait for a bit before sleeping with him also shows you what his true intentions are-if he’s only in it for sex, chances are he won’t stay around waiting very long-he’ll move onto an easier target.

Getting physical should be on your terms, and only when you feel completely ready.  Ignore what you think you “should” do to keep his interest…only do what feels right for you, as cliché as it is.  Don’t try to keep up with anyone else, or rely totally on the physical to form a connection. 

Remember, you have nothing to prove…and everything to gain.

http://www.datingover50uk.com

Going Out On A Date?

Remember to HAVE FUN! 

You aren't solving world peace or the Bermuda Triangle. 

You are going to meet someone that is quite possibly cute and charming, and someone you may just like, so just relax and let it happen. And, worst-case scenario, you can always write a fun blog about all of your dating adventures!

Worse things have happened!

http://www.datingover50uk.com

Secrets to a Successful Re-Entry Into the World of Dating

Re-entering the dating scene after divorce or a long-term relationship can be intimidating and daunting to any woman.

Even the most accomplished, confident or beautiful woman can regress to the point of feeling like a pimple-faced, awkward adolescent at a middle school dance.

To say you feel “out of practice” may be a gross understatement. It is enough to make you curl up on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s while sobbing through reruns of romantic Hugh Grant movies.

You may even be convinced romance is just for the lucky or the young. To make matters worse, you may be feeling discarded, unappreciated or rejected by your former spouse or lover.

While the realization you don’t want to spend the rest of your life alone may be surfacing, you may also be asking if it is worth the risk to give love another chance, especially if you have just been burned and the wounds are still painfully fresh.

While the cautionary tales of “love gone bad” are ever abundant, sometimes hope springs eternal and you may find yourself considering “giving it another go.”

There are ways to wisely navigate through this “flowered meadow” filled with potential land mines.

1. Get really clear about what you want.

Wisdom does come through experience. By now, you know yourself and likely have some clarity about what you want and need in a relationship.

Do you actually want another long-term relationship or marriage, or do you just want some companionship?

You may find you need some time and space on your own to recover and avoid the sometimes ghastly “rebound relationship.”

“A renewed sense of joy just might lead

you to the best love you have ever had.”

2. Try not to take the process too seriously.

This is easier said than done since it may feel like your heart is on the line, but remember love and romance are supposed to be fun.

I think it’s sad when all the joy is taken out of the equation and is displaced by fear.

If you need to ease back in slowly, try to participate in social engagements and settings which feel safe and enjoyable to you.

Choose activities which interest and excite you since having a life filled with things you love is very attractive and rewarding.

While you are not likely to meet “The One” at a daytime yoga class, it is at least getting you out of the house.

Once you feel more comfortable in social situations, you can branch out and stretch a little by expanding your social circles and trying new things.

Then once you really get your mojo going strong, you can go to where the men are: car shows, business events, financial seminars and sporting events, just to name a few. Or maybe try Internet Dating?

A renewed sense of joy, hope and adventure just might lead you to the best love you have ever had.

Are you ready?

Michelle Marchant Johnson is a writer, speaker and relationship coach who partners with single women who want to find love and romance. Go to www.lovelifelifecoaching.com to receive your complimentary "7 Attraction Principles" e-course, "Love Notes" newsletter and request a complimentary "Find Your Love" coaching session. Michelle found love at age 43 and is a breast cancer survivor who believes life is meant to be filled with love and passion.

Online Dating Advice

Whether you're completely new to online dating, or are just getting back onto the dating scene after a break, there are a few things you should bear in mind before getting started. Keep in mind that to grow any relationship, you have to give a little to get a little, we also want you to exercise caution when getting to know any potential new dating partners whether you meet them in a bar, through a friends or on our site. Here are a few things you might like to consider:

Stay in Control

We want to ensure that you have a safe and successful experience on Dating Over 50 UK. We therefore strongly recommend that you stay within the site to build up relationships over time, rather than giving out your phone number, personal email or instant messenger address to matches that interest you straight away. Remember that on our site you are fully in control of all your searches and can choose to take things at your own pace.

Keep it Real

With online dating you get what you give. Honesty and communication have often been viewed as the cornerstones of a happy relationship, so by being honest about yourself and what you're looking for in a partner from the start, you'll have a better chance of meeting someone who's right for you. Research shows that members with photographs receive as many as seven times more responses to their profiles than those without. So be sure to choose a recent picture that accurately reflects how you look now. Pick a headshot that clearly shows your face, in focus, smiling and in a flattering light, and maybe a full-length shot, or one showing you doing something you enjoy such as walking your dog in the country.

Get the Most From Your Time on Dating Over 50 UK

When creating your profile, you want to catch peoples' eyes and stand out from the crowd, so it pays to be specific in your interests and to highlight the qualities you have. Don't just simply state 'I have a good sense of humour' or 'I enjoy nights in with a bottle of wine and a DVD'. Try to expand a little. If someone you like the sound of shows an interest in you, take a good look at their profile. Personalising your first email to them is everything. Pick up on common life experiences and interests and make a connection that way. A first email is about getting the conversation started, not revealing your entire life story - so leave something for you both to chat about next time. Make responding to your email as easy as possible by asking them some questions, it's important to remember that the person at the other end may be waiting for you to make the first move.

Loneliness 'time bomb' warning fuelled by baby-boomer divorces

Research published as part of David Cameron’s plan to measure the nation’s “happiness” indicates that almost seven million members of the baby-boomer generation and above admit feeling lonely.

Among people over 80, the proportion rises to almost half, including a large minority who admit they feel lonely much of the time.

But campaign groups warned that the study suggests that the generation now approaching retirement will prove to be a “loneliness time bomb”.

The study, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows that loneliness is most acute among those who live alone or have long-standing illnesses which prompt then to become more isolated.

But the report also draws attention to the role of divorce and separation among over 50s as a major contributory factor.

Using data gathered as part of the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing which follows the lives of more than 10,000 English people throughout older age, ONS analysts found that 34 per cent of people aged 52 and over openly described themselves as feeling lonely some or much of the time.

Among over 80s the proportion rises to 46 per cent, including 17 per cent who said that they felt lonely much of the time.

Almost six out of 10 of those samples who lived on their own spoke of feeling lonely, the same proportion of those who described them selves as being in poor health who also felt acute isolation.

Unsurprisingly those who had been widowed were most likely to feel lonely some or much of the time – 63 per cent. But those who had been divorced or separated were next in line, with 51 per cent reporting loneliness marking their lives.

By contrast only just over four out of 10 of those who had always been single said they felt lonely.

The figures show that consistently higher proportions of women report feeling loneliness more acutely than men. The ONS said that this may be because, as women live longer, a higher proportion experience being widowed than men.

Official figures published last year showed that the numbers of According to the Office for National Statistics the number of so-called “silver splitters” – older people getting divorced from their husband or wife had almost doubled in a decade.

Laura Ferguson, director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, who supports greater services for older people, said social changes meant that Britain could soon be facing a loneliness epidemic.

She said: “In the cohort of people coming through there are larger numbers of people living alone – partly due to divorce – than ever before.

“If we don’t shift attitudes to being alone and not being happy with that, I think frankly they are a time bomb.

“If there is a large cohort coming through with all of the risk factors [for loneliness] we are going to have a very serious problem.”

She added that the problem was most acute among women not just because of the loss of a partner but because women are more likely than men to experience bereavement through the loss of close friends whom they outlive.

Michelle Mitchell, director general of Age UK, said: “As we get older, we are more likely to suffer illness and disability which can prevent us from getting out and about, and people’s social networks often shrink due to life-changing events such as retirement and bereavement which can increase the risk of becoming lonely.

“We are extremely concerned that cuts to local authority budgets are exacerbating the problem of loneliness and isolation for many older people.”

Andrew Burgess, planning director of Churchill Retirement Living, said: “The latest census data shows that approximately one in six people in England and Wales are over 65 and this is by far the fastest growing age group.

“Many people in this age range will end up in single-person households due to the death of a partner, the breakdown of a relationship, or the loosening of family bonds.

“Declining health and mobility challenges will invariably exacerbate the situation for many.

“This is not just a problem for us as a society concerned for the mental well-being of our neighbours – studies have shown that lonely people are more likely to suffer from health problems and require more support from the state.”

Article from The Daily Telegraph

You don't have to be alone - find a senior partner here

Getting Back in the Game

Dating among the senior set is becoming more popular thanks to online dating sites for retirees and a more liberal acceptance of senior sexuality. Seniors may have a lot of experience under their belts, but they’re also up for new adventures and relationships. This list of dating tips is just for seniors, from the casual dating crowd to grandmas looking for love.

Dating again after a divorce, death or just a long slump can be overwhelming. There are new rules to the game, but that doesn’t mean you have to be left out. Check here for tips on getting back on your feet.

1. No excuses: Don’t cheat yourself of love in your later years by telling yourself that you’re too old or too out-of-date to have a good time. You don’t have to be the cutting edge serial dater you were in your 20's, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to find someone who makes you happy.
2. Remember how much fun you used to have: Get out of the house and surround yourself with friends and contemporaries when you’re feeling low.
3. Start off slow: Ease yourself back into dating by attending group events at community centers you’re familiar with.
4. Don’t overdo it: Staying out all night or all weekend may have been easy back in the day, but keep yourself in check when you’re first starting to date again.
5. Dating After Loss of a Spouse: Read Elaine Williams’ blog entry about grieving for a spouse and understanding when you’re ready to move on.
6. Be open minded: The rules may have changed a bit since you were dating, so be open minded about modern dating etiquette.
7. Stay true to yourself: You’ve kept your morals and your opinions this long, so don’t sacrifice everything you know for a new beau.
8. Don’t abandon your past: If you’re afraid that a new boyfriend or girlfriend will make you forget your family or past relationships, have a discussion with that person to let them know that you’ll always remain close to your past and that a new relationship doesn’t entail leaving them behind.
9. Don’t take it so seriously: Getting back in the game can be nerve wracking at first, but just remember to have fun, explore your options and stay true to yourself.
10. Moving On After a Relationship Break-Up: This article offers more tips for moving on to another relationship after a break-up, divorce or even the death of a loved one.

Start dating again and find new friends here!

http://www.datingover50UK.com