Take a chance. Think outside the box. Try something new. There’s a reason your “type” hasn’t worked so far, maybe it’s time to meet someone who actually fits : )
I joined Ignite Dating just over a year ago after burning out on the traditional dating apps (not that I was ever a fan of dating to begin with). I’d recently become a single mother by choice and had been single for 6–7 years. I didn’t have the time, or the inclination, to swipe endlessly, so I set out to find someone who could handle the laborious beginning bit for me. That’s when I found Ignite.
In truth, I hadn't really shopped around so had little to compare it to when I had my introductory meeting, but was sold about proceeding with them when, essentially, I was not sold high hopes and/or golden dreams. In my view, if they were just interested in my money, they would have simply agreed to find the 'version of man' I described, but instead, they were upfront about what was likely and what wasn’t. For me, my position on it was, I had already been single for so long so clearly my "type" was probably not the best for me so chose to go in with a very open and flexible mindset.
I chose to pay for seven matches (a match was only counted as a match when both parties agreed to swap numbers). I wanted to give them, and myself, the best opportunity to really nail it. My overall goal was to have my last first date. Physically, the suggested matches were all quite different - BUT (and it’s an important but) our values, interests, and outlooks aligned. Where they didn’t, my matchmaker listened, debriefed after each date, tweaked her approach, and tried again.
In the year+ I've been with them, my matchmaker really got to know me. I mean, really know me. My quirks, my personality that seemed to be rooted in both tradition and fierce independence, and the unknowingly unhealed parts of me; offering her time, energy (both in/out of hours) and care when it was needed (thanks, Ellie). I had no issue that between matches there were a good two to three months because is it not more important that this is done correctly rather than rushed through? A friend of mine once told me, "nothing happens before its time" and it has become somewhat of a mantra for me. Rest assured that even if you're not getting weekly updates, they're working away in the background to nail this for you (call or text them if you're feeling a little anxious, it's really not a problem). When the time is right, you'll have a match winging its way over to you.
After a few unsuccessful matches for various reasons, I was offered the opportunity to meet with Michelle for a coaching session. This, I found really helpful. We were able to discuss each match in detail, look for patterns and suggested mindset/physical shifts that may help me out. For example, I was often rushing to a date in the middle of a workday so never really switched off 'Work Alison' to 'Date-Ready Alison'. Little things like that. Plus, I now had both my matchmaker AND Michelle who'd both met and knew me pretty well - lucky me!
Suffice to say, it was my penultimate match where I was gently encouraged to be flexible, think outside the box and just try (what's the worst that could happen right?) and SUCCESS!! I've met a man who's truly swept me off my feet and seemed to have come from nowhere! He makes me really happy in ways that I didn't really think occurred in real life and didn't know that I needed. Although it's early days, I'm flirting with the idea that I may, in fact, have had my last ever first date! Thanks guys!!!
So, take a chance. Think outside the box. Try something new. There’s a reason your “type” hasn’t worked so far, maybe it’s time to meet someone who actually fits. Good luck!!
14. marraskuuta 2025
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