Over 50 and single?
Well, stick around because I'm gonna help you gear up, get out, get online, and have fun again!
[♪ music ♪] [The Best of Everything with Barbara Hannah Grufferman]
Did you know that nearly 50 percent of people over 50 are single by either choice or circumstance,
and a lot of them want to get back into the dating game.
But so many haven't ventured out in years and might be a little rusty!
So I decided to check in with Bobbi Palmer, dating coach, CEO of Date Like A GrownUp,
and the woman who found her own true love in mid-life.
She says that being over 50 could be the best time to date.
Hi, Bobbi.
So I thought that because so many people are meeting virtually instead of actually these days that we should have a little Skype chat.
So hi, Bobbi!
I'm so glad to be here.
Hey, Barbara!
I have a question for you.
A lot of women want to know what are the 3 biggest mistakes women make when they're thinking about getting back into the dating game?
You know, first it's that 18-year-old thing.
Even though we're over 50, we can still feel that insecurity with men.
So it's time to dump that silly stuff.
That's old stuff, and embrace the accomplished, lovely, grown-up woman that you are because that woman has every right
to go out into the dating world with complete confidence being exactly who she is, and she'll attract the right guy.
The second mistake is basing your decisions based on the same criteria you did when you were younger.
If you think chemistry tells you that he's a good match or you still have "he needs to be tall" on your list of must haves,
then you are missing out on a lot of really good men.
Last, you've got to get out of the house.
Take a ballroom dance class.
Find a poker game.
Go out to dinner with friends on a regular basis.
Bobbi, I have a question from a viewer.
A recent report said that men have twice as many pursuers online as women.
Not great stats, huh?
Am I wasting my time by trying to find a date online?
What's your thought?
I love that question.
Okay.
You are not wasting your time.
I met my husband online when I was 47, and tons of my over-50 clients are meeting really good men online.
But let me give you 3 really good tips.
Number one, you've got to stand out.
That means you have to have a great profile that shows your personality,
and that means you've got to tell a bunch of stories instead of just listing a bunch of adjectives that mean nothing.
Number 2 is take professional pictures.
Period—don't argue—get your pictures taken by a professional.
Number 3 is get some tips and advice from me or from some other expert before you go online.
If you don't do these 3 things, then your online experience will be really frustrating,
and you could disappear in that crowd of women that are going after those really good men.
Great advice.
Everyone check out dating.aarp.org—
one of the best online dating sites.
Bobbi, let's have a toast.
I'm going to toast you with my green tea in my gorgeous cup that I got in Rome when I went there recently with my husband
to celebrate our twentieth anniversary.
Cheers! Cheers!
And thank you so much!
It was fun.
Thank you, Barbara.
Okay, here's your plan.
Let go of that old vision of yourself and become acquainted with who you are now.
Broaden your social circles to meet more people.
Don't be afraid to try online dating and, in fact, check out dating.AARP.org.
Be realistic about what you want in a partner and, most of all,
cherish the grownup you've become and the right person will, too.
Until next time, remember this, we can't control getting older, but we can control how we do it!
I want to hear from you!
Leave your questions about living your best life after 50 in the comments section below.
Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and my blog on AARP.org.