Dating After 50 — Level of Commitment
Think of dating as an opportunity. If you haven’t enjoyed success in the past, it doesn’t mean you won’t now. It will be helpful if you take time to look at your past relationships and why they failed. Did these relationships really meet your needs? Remember hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we can definitely learn from it.
You will also have to ask yourself just what degree of commitment you have to both dating and finding the companionship you are looking for. By the time we reach our 50’s, most of us have very busy lives. Between our work, our families, our extracurricular activities, and our friends our lives are full and our spare time minimal. However, if you truly want to find love, you are going to have to make some decisions about what you are willing to give up to make time for dating.
You shouldn’t see dating as a chore that you have to schedule in. Look at is an opportunity to have a nice meal, enjoy some good conversation, maybe see a show or partake in some other activity, and perhaps even find romance.
You are going to have good dates, great dates, and some bad dates too. Don’t let the handful of bad dates discourage you. Think of all the positive experiences you can enjoy on those good dates, and who knows one of those great dates might just be the man you’ve been waiting to meet.
As we mature, we may not want to put large amounts of energy into finding romance, but if you are serious about finding that companion you really should consider investing time and energy into your quest.
Only you can decide just how committed you are to finding romance. Of course, there are also different types of romantic relationships. Just because you are looking for companionship doesn’t mean you want to get married. You might be looking for a long-term relationship without marriage. Then again, you may be looking to marry. On the other hand, you might not even be looking for a long-term relationship. Your goal may be to enjoy the dating scene with men whose company you enjoy and that offer the companionship you desire, without the commitment.
There is no right or wrong answer here. This is a very personal decision that only you can make. For some, making a decision in advance about how committed you are to finding a companion can help you to enjoy your dating experiences better. Then again, for others a wait and see dating attitude works best — dating and seeing where it leads. Your soul mate could be your next date. It’s up to you to decide how you want to handle your dating life.
Being older and wiser than you were a few decades ago doesn’t mean that you’ve become an expert when it comes to love. Perhaps you were married a long time and then your spouse died or perhaps your life is made up of short romances. No matter what your paste relationships look like, remember this is a new day and a new dating phase.