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ask aku
life, relationship and career advice
Lucinda Aku Acquaye
Dear Aku,
What are your thoughts on online dating? My close circle of girlfriends and I are in our late twenties and early thirties, single, and having a difficult time meeting men that we are interested in. We are all professional, attractive, ambitious, and a fun bunch of women, but none of us seem to be able to secure a committed relationship. We’re no longer interested in going to clubs, and we’re all for the most part finished with our academic careers so where does that leave us with the dating scene? HELP!
-Scared of being old and alone-
Dear Scared,
Societal pressures have forced us to feel like we are less than if we have not settled down with anyone by the time we hit our thirties. Butith an unlimited amount of opportunities available to us, we all know there is nothing wrong with being single and utilizing the time to pursue goals that may be difficult to accomplish with the distractions a relationship can sometimes bring. However, if you and your girlfriends feel like it is now time for you to meet someone, why not try online dating? I’ll admit I originally felt like online dating networks were tagged as a place for losers, a bunch of freaks who “couldn’t find anyone on their own.” But this is clearly not the case today. For busy yet interesting people like yourself, it is the perfect way to narrow the field of what you are looking for right at your fingertips. While the filters on these sites aren’t fool-proof, you will have a better chance at finding potential partners who fall into the category of what you are looking for. There are virtually dating sites for any interest: people in your profession, country- specific dating sites, sites catered toward various religious beliefs, networks for people living with a particular illness etc. While many sites charge a fee, plenty are free and many often offer guarantees. As for safety, I don’t believe it is any more harmful than meeting someone off the street. If and when you eventually meet someone you are interested in meeting face to face, be cautious, meet in a public place, and make someone you know aware that you will be meeting. If you do end up meeting someone, write us back and let us know what website you found Mr. Right on…I could use some suggestions right about now!
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