Somewhere between the end of December and the start of this month, the bars seem to have exploded and online dating sites have surged with new users.
Perhaps it’s everyone who has made it their resolution to change their single status in the new year. Whatever the reason, January seems to be the time when people are hitting the singles circuit.
Even airports are breeding grounds for romances, with nearly one in 10 adults saying they have met or know someone who has met a date at the airport or during a flight, suggests a StrategyOne survey done on behalf of AXE body spray.
Toronto dating coach Michael, A.K.A., the Dating Wizard, says public transit can also be a good place to meet singles. He should know — he met his last girlfriend on the bus and his current one on the subway. For those of us who feel a little strange about approaching a stranger, Michael suggests starting the conversation around the situation.
“On a bus that is moving one mile an hour, you can say something like, ‘Excuse me, do you have any light reading, something like Encyclopedia Britannica, just to last me until I get to my destination?’ This kind of stuff is good because they can relate to the situation,” he says.
Other places that hold promise, according to Michael, are coffee shops, where people are likely to be hopped up on caffeine — an automatic mood booster; the bookstore, allowing for a built-in conversation starter; or even standing in line in places like the bank, which offers a few undistracted moments of the person’s time.
Even a short elevator ride can bring about the opportunity to meet someone date worthy.
“In those situations, I would try to keep the conversation going even after we get off the elevator,” says Michael.
This, he says, gives both people the extra time necessary to see if it’s warranted giving out or asking for that phone number after all.
Kasia Iglinski is a journalist who enjoys her work and her dating life. Armed with a notepad and a curious mind, she’s always on the prowl for a good story and a good date.
