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If you are ready to start dating again in your 50s you’re not alone. Millions of men and women find themselves at the end of a marriage or long-term relationship and are ready to start again with someone new. Plenty of over-50s want to have fun meeting new people and perhaps finding romance. But the fact that there are so many 50-somethings out there in the dating field doesn’t make it any easier to get out there yourself. Don’t be scared – you can have a great experience if you go into it with the right attitude and the best intentions. Firstly, make sure you protect yourself. You may not be a teenager anymore but that doesn’t mean you should forget about personal safety. Don’t give away personal details until you are sure you trust the other person. When you meet someone for the first time, meet in a public place. Try going for coffee first, then progress to a longer date like dinner if you find you want to. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you can, have someone phone you during the date to check all is going well. You also need to protect yourself if you get intimate with a date. The rate of sexually transmitted diseases is rising in the over-50s, partly because returnees to the dating scene don’t believe they need to use condoms. Condoms are not just for youngsters. Protect yourself while you have fun. Don’t feel you need to tell each other all the details of your past failed love experiences. Part of the fun of dating again is to be yourself, free of all the past baggage. Of course you won’t be able to forget about every experience in the past but you can concentrate on enjoying the present. Talk about your issues with a friend or a therapist and give your date the benefit of your positive side. The biggest benefit of dating over a certain age is the experience you have and the fact that you know you can rely on yourself. Now could be a good time to branch out, try new hobbies, and talk about different things. Decide what you want from a relationship. If you are looking to settle down again, don’t settle for second-best. You may have done that in the past but now it’s different. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to find the perfect match, but do think about what qualities you are looking for and which character traits or situations are non-negotiable. Don’t feel you must continue to be with someone because they show interest. Dating over 50 is the ideal time to find what you really want, whether that is a short fling or a long, romantic relationship. But most of all, enjoy yourself. Over 50's dating can be a wonderful experience. Lighten up, have fun, and don’t take the experience too seriously. You might end up meeting someone wonderful along the way but if you don’t, at least you will have had a good time trying. Louise Carr is a British freelance writer based in Argentina. She writes for several blogs and websites on subjects including fashion, style, dating, and Over 50's dating.
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