Most singles set some meeting goals, especially in January when the year begins and again in late summer, when school begins. The secret to meeting is to work at it all year.

The secret to meeting the right person is simply:
MEETING.

Meeting Singles:
A Five-Step Program
with links for DFW.
By Rob McLean

How's your New Year's Resolution? The one that reads, "This is the year I will get a
1. Life
2. Mate
3. Significant Other
4. New mother-in-law.

Making your resolution a reality instead of a pipe dream is not hard to do. It all revolves around exposure and your time.

We have all heard it a million times; "You need to meet many, many singles to find someone who is right for you." Yet how many times do we work at this ONLY until we meet someone we can "mold" to fit us? Then, after a few weeks, months, or years, the mold becomes a straight jacket, the relationship ends, and we are back where we started.

And meeting and meeting and meeting.

There are five steps here designed to make you meet others. You take these steps one at a time every week or ten days. Don't stop when the first or second step seems to be working. Keep going forward until you have all five steps in place. Enjoy yourself, but keep meeting new people until someone is perfect for you.

This will work. I guarantee it!

STEP ONE
A. Participate in a singles--or predominantly single--social group. Is there a group around town, which fits your special interests or lifestyle? A personal interest helps you communicate, particularly if you are shy.

Most singles meet some other singles. but not enough singles to make a match. 

C. When you are in a small town without options, try driving to a large population area. If the nearest metroplex is too far, look for a church group. NOT your church. You would be better served finding a church with a large group of singles you don't know yet. Check out the neighboring towns, too. Remember, this is your life we are talking about. You can drive!

STEP TWO
Find a personal matchmaker. You may know one. If not, take out your detective skills and find a commercial matchmaking service. My personal experience says to
A. Avoid the national franchises.

B. Look for a matchmaking service, not a dating service. You want to meet people now, not spend your time looking at picture books or videos.

C. Look for a matchmaker who matches singles using his/her brain, not a computer.

D. Get prices over the phone to avoid sales pressure in the office.

E. Go for it!

Matchmakers save you time while exposing you to many, many more people than you could ever meet on your own.

A. Start with the search engines. There are 100s of small singles' sites in cyberspace if you take the time to find them.

B. Allow time to place ads or fill out profiles on many different sites.

C. Join several promising internet groups.

D. Don't wait on people to come to you. Start answering ads on your own and meeting as many people as possible.

Dealing with the smaller sites on the internet will take time, but the exposure is worth it.

Congratulations! You have finished the hard part. Put step four and five in place and keep going.

STEP FOUR
Everywhere you go, say to everyone you know, "This is the year I am going to find my special person. Do you know someone I can meet?" So what if this embarrasses you, do it anyway. People love to play matchmaker. Let them do it for you!

STEP FIVE
Network with all the people you meet. Example: Your matchmaker finds a really nice person who shares many of your interests and/or your lifestyle. Unfortunately, there is NO chemistry with this person. But he (she) DOES have friends sharing those same interests and lifestyle. Get to know those friends!

What about SPARKS?
We don't have a real spark with many people. Don't expect it often and don't be surprised when YOU ignite a weak spark with others. Instead of trying to fan a cold fire, you need to keep moving.

What about SHORTCUTS?
A fast trip to the divorce court starts with an attempted makeover. It ends when people can't or won't change. Leave those makeovers to Mary Kay and work your plan.

THE END
As the year ends, you will have a life AND a significant other. You will also be well on your way to a mate and a NEW mother-in-law! Sorry, pal, can't help you with that mother-in-law!