GREYHAIRLADYSPEAKSOUT

Dipping a Toe in the Dating Pool

Summers over. The crisp fall air is creeping in, and swims in lakes, rivers, or the ocean are officially on pause until spring. But me? I’ve just dipped my toe in the dating pool, and lets just say it runs both hot and cold.

Dating Then vs. Dating Now

Dating today is a whole new world compared to 30 years ago. Back then, you met someone at a church social, a family gathering, or maybe through a blind date. You actually had to talk to someone before deciding if you liked them!

Now? Profiles, swipes, algorithms, and enough emojis to make your head spin. As a widow dipping back in, its equal parts overwhelming and comical, sometimes hilarious, sometimes head-scratching, often both at once.

Back then, talking came before swiping. Now, its all thumbs and emojis!

Swipe, Swipe, Swipe

Picture window shopping at the mall, but instead of clothes or gadgets, its profiles.

• Swipe left
• Swipe right
• Swipe up
• Swipe down

Hit a like button or write a note. Some people answer profile questions in just a few words, leaving them as mysterious as a carnival grab bag. Others (guilty as charged) have a lot of words and can write short stories, or sometimes novels, potentially scaring off anyone who doesn’t love to read.

Messaging Madness

And then there’s the messaging. Some first messages I’ve seen:

• Do you like tacos? (Yes, I do.)
• I just bought a llama farm (Uh what?)

And the profile pictures! Someone with a cat on their head, another holding a fish they obviously didn’t catch, and one that looked like it was taken in the middle of a tornado.

You never know what you’re going to get!

Finding Humor and Faith in the Chaos

Through it all, I remind myself that God is in the details, guiding hearts, decisions, and timing. He can take all the noise and turn it into clarity.

The waiting, the swiping, and the occasional head shaking?  A little sweeter when I trust Him.

Keeping It Real

For the record, I’m not much of a competition girl when it comes to romance. I don’t share well when its something or someone that truly matters. I’d rather trust the One who already knows the story, the hearts, and the timing, and let Him write it in a way that feels right for both of us.

Sure, profiles have criteria: age, interests, location. Inevitably, some people sneak in outside those limits with a polite, “the distance is too far or I wish you lived closer”. Honestly? Distance isn’t something I get hung up on. Home is where the heart is, right? Compatibility and partnership matter far more than a push pin in the map.

Laughing, Trusting, and Letting Go

So here I am, keeping it real, laughing at myself, and leaving it with the Lord. His will is ultimately what matters most. And if nothing else, I promise honesty, a little humor, and maybe even a few moments that make us both smile along the way.

Honesty, humor, and a little faith that’s my dating strategy.