By Nicole Baikie — Written on Nov 18, 2009
There is no denying that it takes a substantial blast of mojo to walk up to a complete stranger and introduce yourself. Fear of rejection is a definitely a mindset that will debilitate even the heartiest of seasoned singles. However, having stated the obvious, at the end of the day what have you really got to lose? I believe that anyone can develop the right mindset to approach attractive strangers. Someone very wise once told me "What other people think of you is non of your business!" It has taken me years to wrap my head around that one but wow a free feeling to reach that place inside yourself. Look at it this way - would you rather spend hours of wasted time fantasizing about someone who doesn't even know you exist?
If you are relationship ready and the idea of screaming over a band you have no interest in while trying to connect with someone you would really like to examine in broad daylight doesn't appeal to your sensibilities... here are some refreshing alternatives for meeting interesting like minded hotties. Remember if you are lucky enough to stumble across a live one, all it takes is the right attitude and a little strategy (ie fear it and do it anyway!)
1. Mate of a mate
Believe it or not this is how most couple meet - through mutual acquaintances. Friends and family are an incredibly valuable resource for introducing you to eligible mates. Relax I am not promoting blind dates or arranged marriages! What I am saying is that you would be pleasantly surprised by what handsome strangers get dug out of the wood work if you simply ask your loved ones if they know of anyone who might be a good catch. For some unknown reason, everyone has a bit of the old match maker archetype dwelling within. Maybe its because everyone loves a love story who knows? All I can say is let go of any preconceived notions of disastrous set ups and start to harness this valuable resource. Another approach is to do some homework on your own. If you happen to stumble across someone that makes your heart strings hum, ask your friends if they know this person or if their friends do. At the end of the day it is incredible how small the world really is. You are bound to come across a mutual acquaintance that would be more than happy to host a dinner party or casual afternoon amongst friends where the two of you can meet. Even if your heart throb does suspect something more than a chance meeting at play, how could they take it any other way than as a huge compliment. If they do - well red card em!
2. Continuing Education Classes
I know it is tempting to sit at home and google everything you need to know about anything but seriously, whats more fun and much better for meeting new people, surfing the net or taking a night course? Grab a copy of your local Continuing Ed calendar and register yourself in any course that interests you. Bearing in mind that if you choose a course that tends to be gender specific you might be disappointed if your dream man opted out of "Needle point 101" this term or your dream girl won't be attending "Boat engine repairs made easy." Having said that, in these changing times, there is a huge shift towards role reversal or at least necessity for the sexes to learn skills that may have been considered gender inappropriate years ago. So don't be surprised if you meet a honey of a man in your Thai cooking class or your auto mechanics class just got a whole lot more interesting than the pin ups on the wall. Most importantly take something that will expand you as a person and that you are passionate about. Classroom environments are flirt centrals. Use your breaks and after class time to strike up conversation about what going on in class, people are always charmed to be able to have a say about what they think about a particular subject.
3. Benefit Dinner or Fundraiser
Well one thing is for certain - there is no shortage of these types of events! Choose a cause that you feel strongly about and make a donation towards improving the world. The beauty of this strategy is that you already know that the souls you are going to meet at a fundraiser are people who like to give back to society and believe in the same causes as you do - common ground right off the bat! If your budget permits why not attend a black and white event - what can be more romantic than seeing potential mates dressed to the nines! Silent auctions and other fund raising activities are great opportunities to crack jokes or show enthusiasm. Make sure you hang around for happy hr after the main event to be able to share your thoughts with like minded others. If you are on a tighter budget or no budget at all for extra curricular activities become a volunteer and help raise funds for your chosen cause. Door knockers or canvassers are always help in high regard if there for good reason. What a fantastic excuse for saying hello to complete strangers remember a smile goes for miles!
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4. Pet Parade
Thanks to the sad fact that local councils are making the pet friendly areas in our cities and towns smaller and smaller - the concentration of dog walkers in pet friendly zones has intensified. For the pet loving single this means the chances of meeting a fellow pet lover on your daily jaunt with Fifi just that much more likely. If you haven't got a pooch of your own - borrow a friend's or a family member's and join the fun. Dog owners, like their dogs come in all shapes and sizes and the one commonality they all share is they love to talk about their furry friends.
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