Nope...I am not opposed to blind dates. If you decide to go on an occasional blind date, it's not a reflection on you in a bad way as though you can't find your own dates. Blind dates are still dates nonetheless except you have a middle person who is helping you out. With that said, I think that singles should exercise certain cautions when and if they decide to go on a blind date. Here are the following five (5) tips:
1. SAFETY should always be a top priority.
Don't get so caught up with the fact that you have a date that you forget to use wisdom. When going on a blind date, try to select public locations to meet. Notice I said meet instead of having the person pick you up. You may want to consider the cost of giving out your home address to a person that you haven't actually met yet. As a regular order of business, you should always let a family member or friend know where you are going when you go on any date and leave phone numbers in case you need to be reached. Be wise, be smart, be safe!
2. DAYLIGHT dates are a good idea.
We sometimes forget that a date is about two people finding convenient times to meet one another. Dates don't always have to be at night. Particularly in a blind date situation, selecting a time during the day is actually a good idea to consider. A daylight blind date may even cost less money. Your options are greater. Most restaurants have lunch time menus for less money. If you want some variety, a simple trip to the museum along with lunch at the museum is a great first blind date. Also, this helps with the conversation, because you can chat about the museum exhibits as conversation fillers. Daylight dates are a good idea.
3. SETUPS by close friends and family might be easier.
Being setup on a blind date by a close friend or family member might be easier to handle. When family members and close friends set you up on a blind date, they already have a first hand knowledge of you and the person you will be meeting. I'm not sure if I would consider going out on a blind date outside of the realm of my family members or close friends setting me up. I guess I might entertain the idea if a person I trusted who wasn't my close friend or family member wanted to set me up on a blind date. This certainly would depend on the person, but I would definitely hear them out about why they think me and this person could be potentially be compatible. Make sure you trust the person whose setting you up.
4. OPEN MINDEDNESS is a good approach.
It's natural for a you to want to know everything upfront about the person you will be meeting. However, you only need to get the relevant information from the person who is setting you up about the person you will be meeting. If you agree to go on the blind date, be open minded. There is a chance for love that can sprout from a blind date in some unexpected ways. I know a couple who met on a blind date and found love. I also know of a guy who figured out a little too late that he had let go of a great woman he use to date, so he used the blind date situation to re-introduce himself to the woman. Wouldn't you know, her heart was open to love despite their past dating relationship, because she was so impressed with all the creativity he had put into wanting to date her again. See, love can find you in different ways, so it's a good approach to show up for your blind date with an open mind.
5. PRESSURE to be perfect should be avoided.
Blind dates should not stress you out. They are no different if you had met the person all on your own. Just be yourself. Matter fact, be an even better version of yourself but don't mislead people or spend countless hours talking about yourself. Learn the art of good listening. Dates in general are pressure oriented situations regardless, so take a deep breath and just be you. If this blind date is not what you expected, then at least you know and you can continue to move forward. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself to be perfect.
I hope these five simple tips were helpful. If you decide to go on a blind date, be safe, be open minded, use wisdom, and enjoy the date. You will never know what can happen unless you take the chance!