These are both valid points, but neither are reasons to not try out some of these places to meet singles on your own. Perhaps a change of venue or attitude will make all the difference, but without trying you'll never know. In fact, you probably wouldn't be reading this article at all if you weren't in need of new ideas to jumpstart your current efforts, as whatever it is you are doing now isn't working to your satisfaction. So grab a paper and a pen, get ready to jot down some ideas for later, and let's get started. Continue to 2 of 7 below. It may seem obvious to some or completely alien to others - yet it works. Find a busy coffee shop that you feel comfortable in, and take up a space near the main door. Avoid bringing anything to distract yourself with if you can manage it, although this may be more difficult for some than for others. The point is this: try not to involve yourself into something so completely that you send off 'I'm busy' vibes. You want to seem approachable, and hiding behind a laptop or book doesn't help! Then, make a point of 'greeting' each person who comes in the door, whether with a smile, comment or friendly hello. There is no need to make your introduction rote or sound like you're working at Walmart though, just try and be yourself doing something that may not come naturally. By opening yourself up and with all of the other patrons, you are also making yourself available to anything that comes your way, which could be a recommendation for a new book to read, a compliment about something you're wearing, or maybe even a date. Someone doesn't say hi back, and another person walks through the door ten seconds later. You've lost nothing in the process, and potentially get to socialize in a lighthearted manner. Continue to 3 of 7 below. Separate from the obvious, there are several social events you can attend to increase your chances of meeting someone new. Try planning a weekly movie night through your friends and see who shows up every week, making it clear that new people are welcome to join at any time. Accept every party, wedding or social networking invitation you are given and attend. Another idea along this same vein would be to host your own party, where each invitee brings a potluck dish and a single friend of the opposite sex for heterosexuals or same sex for gays and lesbians. This way there will be an evenly-matched number of singles, all interested and ready to meet someone new. Think of the kinds of things you love to do, and then find other people to do them - it's really that easy. When I moved back to Vancouver, Canada, I struggled to make friends, much less find someone I was interested in dating. Someone offhandly mentioned a murder mystery party I'd thrown in another city and how much fun it was - so I went on and asked a few local groups if they were willing to host something like this. I hosted a party every month for over a year at a local pub that donated the space to us, and made a lot of friends, as well as met someone to date in the process For those truly passionate about a particular hobby i. Your geographic location will determine whether or not there are readily accessible groups already ready and waiting for your membership. For those in smaller communities where the resources may not be as comprehensive, try talking to the owners of local shops you frequent to buy hobby-related materials and ask if they know of others to speak with regarding starting a group, or if you can post notices looking for other interested participants. Another idea would be to contact national organizations overseeing smaller local chapters to see if they are planning any speaking engagements or are looking to start a chapter in your area. Other ideas along these lines include attending , single parent organizations or meetings, and health-related support groups. Whether as a spectator or a participant, sporting events are also a frequent and commonly-used place to meet singles. Cheering on your favorite team or sweating it out to win a game, sports build camaraderie and companionship between people that sometimes have nothing else in common and would never meet otherwise. There are even singles sporting groups popping up that cater to an even smaller niche market, with the ultimate rewards for a single looking to meet new people: a larger cachet of singles with which to interact with and potentially date. A note for heterosexual ladies: attending a sporting event with other single friends will surely net you a conversation with a stranger if nothing else since single women are usually in short supply. Continue to 5 of 7 below. Whether you are taking a couple of courses to upgrade, are a full-time university student or are passionate about tole painting, every community both large and small have courses you can take that will not only net you more knowledge but a whole new set of people to meet and interact with. If money is an issue, think about taking a class without getting credit or look into how old you have to be to receive free classes, since many universities now offer. Many groups that fall into this category also have single sub-sections for their members looking for a mate, whose special events are excellent places to meet people. There are even specific volunteer organizations geared only towards singles that you can join, knowing that while you are donating your time to a worthy cause, you'll also be expanding your personal network to include other, like-minded singles also looking for a date Continue to 7 of 7 below. It's not only vague, but also the most difficult of places to meet people since you'll never be 100% sure the people you are interacting with are single and looking. Bus stops, laundromats, libraries, restaurants, bookstores, grocery stores and travel-related places buses, trains, planes, etc. What's to remember here is that - anywhere, anytime, anyplace - and you want to be ready no matter what the circumstances.
