Online dating is like a box of chocolates. That may not be the direct quote from Forrest Gump, but you get the idea.  If we are honest with ourselves, at some point when presented with a box of chocolates, we have poked a hole to see the filling before eating one… or we wish we had after eating one that wasn’t so good. Isn’t that the basic premise of online dating?  Everyone presents what we hope to believe is an accurate glimpse inside – basically, what is their filling?  We all know that what is on the outside can be enticing, but it’s what is on the inside that really matters.

It is our experiences and our willingness to try something new that helps us develop our tastes, either with food, or with our friends and potential partners.  As a child, the idea of dark chocolate was disgusting to me, much like caviar or oysters.  I would venture to guess if we had to create profiles to find friends in kindergarten that the term “avid reader” would probably rank up there with the food I just mentioned.  Fast forward a few years and the idea of diving into a good book while sharing a bottle of red wine and dark chocolate in front of a fire as you cuddle with your significant other might just sound heavenly.

Okay… not your speed? Then fill in the blank with another “perfect evening” and I bet it wouldn’t have sounded perfect at age 8. The point is, sometimes we need to get a glimpse inside or try something new and different to understand that we like it.

So as you search for someone that is just right for you this Valentine’s Day, remember to be open to trying or exploring new things.  Don’t discount them just because you’ve never tried skiing, knitting, book club, or car racing before you move on to the next person.  You never know what you might discover about yourself and who you may find in the process.

Email this post