Author Archives: HopefulGirl

The moment has arrived! With lockdown restrictions gradually being eased around the world, you may finally be able to meet up with someone you’ve been chatting to online. But of course, in many places, we still have to practise social distancing and avoid being inside or in crowds – so it’s time to get creative with your dates.

When it comes to connecting with someone on a dating site, you’re probably aware of the usual advice to meet in person as soon as possible. Well, coronavirus has certainly thrown a spanner in the works with that! While restrictions are being relaxed in some places, you may not be able to meet in person easily, safely or even legally for some time. Some fortunate souls might be able to meet for a socially-distanced walk or picnic – assuming you don’t need public transport to get there, and until one of you needs the bathroom! But hand-holding, hugs and kisses are probably off the agenda for now. So where does that leave you in a developing relationship?

Now we’re all staying at home and avoiding contact with anyone outside our households (I hope!), where does that leave us when it comes to dating and relationships? First dates are notoriously awkward, but at least if you’re in a pub or café, or doing an activity together, you can make small talk about your surroundings or what’s happening around you. Not so easy in a video call! Interacting through a screen may help you discover if there’s a spark, but it’s harder to really connect when we’re communicating from our individual bubbles. So, how can you get more from your virtual dates?

A friend of mine is about to join a Christian dating site (this one, as a matter of fact), and wanted advice on getting the most from online dating. ‘In your experience, HopefulGirl, what’s the key to success?’ she asked. I had no trouble giving her an answer…

“I don’t have any problem contacting people online,” said the message. “But for some reason, I struggle to keep the conversation going, and the interaction quickly fizzles out. How can I improve my chat?”

Christmas is rushing towards us at high speed, and this is a time of year when it can feel particularly tough to be single. While other people are (we imagine) revelling in the joys of family festivities and cosy romantic moments (not helped by those Christmas movies – thanks, Love, Actually), singles may be feeling extra lonely and sad that life hasn’t (yet) worked out how they’d hoped.

So, you’ve been on a few dates with someone, or have started a relationship, and it’s going well – there’s good chemistry, you seem to get along, and you’re feeling hopeful that they’re a keeper. But how can you tell if someone has real potential as a partner?

‘Do you think it’s important to have chemistry with someone you’ve just met, or can it develop over time?’ That’s the question Christian Connection recently posed on its social media pages – and something many of us will have considered on our dating journey: ‘I like this guy, but I don’t know if I’m attracted to him…’ or ‘She’s great on paper, but do we have enough of a spark?’