Two Day Magazine

Dating Outside the Box

Ten years ago, life was easy. Making the decision as to which movie to go to and who’s having a field party posed as two of my bigger decisions. Enter my mid 20’s. Everyone is clamoring to find that significant other, and things got completely complicated. Before going on that all-important date, one must first find someone to go out with. Easier said than done. Whether you live in a big city or not, people seem to use all the wrong approaches in dating, starting with where to meet someone.

Some people meet a significant other online. Cool for them, but more often than not, the computer is just a faceless, emotionless screen that begets meaningless conversation. I truly don’t know that you can get to know anyone without meeting them face to face. Maybe we should all try kicking it old school and socializing in public like our parents used to.

Meeting someone at a bar doesn’t seem like the path to a stable relationship, either. Drinks lead to more drinks, a naturally more animated character, and the increased possibility of immediate physical intimacy. Getting inebriated and adding another notch to your ever-expanding belt seems to be the new form of dating. How romantic. However, there are a few places outside the confines of your local beer drenched pub to meet someone.

Hitting the gym might not only help you lose that spare tire you picked up drowning your sorrows one dateless night in a gallon of ice cream,  but it’s also a haven for those focused on health and self-motivation. Taking a yoga class might not bring you the exact same pleasures as the ladies on Sex and the City, but physically it helps build strength and flexibility while uniting (or reuniting) your mind and body and increasing your metabolism. If transforming your body doesn’t seem realistic, there’s a distinct possibility that you’ll meet a cutie at the water fountain. And it never hurts asking your hot instructor for assistance on getting your legs up over your head.

Having a significant other with your same taste in music is always a plus. I often attend local concerts and shows solo – not because I’m a friendless loser, or because I’m deliberately trying to meet someone, but I tend to appreciate the band when I’m focused on them and not babysitting my boneheaded friends. Few things are more fulfilling than being surrounded by others that share your adoration for the stage taker. Forming a bond based on music and mixed CDs could be the start of something magical.

Art galleries are filled with all types; art buffs and intelligentsia checking out the latest designs, art newbies trying to further their art appreciation, and the few stragglers that could care less and just came for the free wine. Gallery crawls are typically filled with interesting, creative people with a penchant for conversation and a knack for socializing. Put on your evening best and make a night of it. What do you have to lose, besides your status as being single and ready to mingle?