Erin go braugh, Ireland forever, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is a holiday just made for parties, filled with drinking green beer and hanging out with friends. It seems everyone is “Irish for a day” on St. Patrick’s Day, making it one of the top reasons (or excuses, depending on your perspective) to go out and have fun.

Unlike many other holidays where the emphasis is on that “special someone” (think Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and of course Valentine’s Day), the very nature of St. Patrick’s Day is all about having fun, fun, and more fun. This makes it a terrific opportunity for singles to get out of the house, get out on the town, and simply enjoy themselves for the evening.

If you’re not sure where to go or what to do on St. Patrick’s Day, a quick look through the local paper or events calendar should be all it takes to find something appealing. Many communities have activities underway all day long, from fun runs in the morning to parades in the afternoon to concerts, dances, and beer gardens in the evening and into the night. Grab a friend (or even better, a group of friends) and head out to whatever event or activity strikes your fancy. Approach the evening as a chance to relax and have fun without the pressure of being on a date or having to interact with just one person. Laugh, play, dance, sing karaoke….whatever you want to do because it’s a day to celebrate the spirit and joyous approach to life of the Irish people.

Just remember, if you’re planning to drink alcohol don’t drive; designate a driver to make sure everyone can have a terrific time and get home safely at the end of the evening!

News & Views Fun, Holidays, Irish, Party

You’ve made it through the holiday season and into the New Year, a period of time that is often quite difficult for singles and online daters. All of that pressure to “find someone special” can make what are supposed to be happy times into depressed and unpleasant times.

But now it’s February and those dismal, depressed times should be long gone, right? Wrong! Just because the holidays are over does not mean online daters aren’t still feeling the winter blahs. It’s still getting dark early, the weather is still pretty crummy, and it’s still hard sometimes to find yourself looking for dates and feeling quite alone.

So what can you do to overcome these winter dating blahs? As it turns out, plenty!

Keep to a routine – Establish a routine and stick to it because this kind of structure has a positive effect on your mood. The best routines include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and getting enough sleep each night.

Keep your friends close – The winter blahs are all about feeling a lack of energy, so fight them off by keeping in contact with your friends who energize you. Talk regularly on the phone, set up regular coffee or lunch dates, and make sure you have regular contact with those people who are most energizing and fun to be around.

Practice optimism – It’s easy to get “stuck” in negativity during the winter months; it’s too hard to find dates, the weather is too ugly to go outside, and the like. Remember, though, that the power of positive thinking and optimism are real. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of what you’re feeling and experiencing, make a point of paying attention to the positive aspects of your life. It sounds silly, but it really does work.

Dating Essentials Depression, Friends, Holidays, Winter

Colorful lights. Tinsel and wrapping paper. Endless advertising showing happy couples sharing meaningful moments together. And of course, those sickeningly sweet, sappy, cheerful Christmas songs playing over and over and over again, everywhere you go. Yes, it’s Christmas once again, and for many singles it’s the most lonely time of the year.

If you find yourself feeling sad, lonely, or depressed during this “season of good cheer” the most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. The picture-perfect holidays featuring close knit families and large circles of vivacious friends are not real, but rather a deliberate creation of those who want to sell you something.

Instead of watching and listening to this kind of stuff over and over, why not take a different approach to this holiday season? You might:

• Spend a day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity
• Turn off the TV and the radio, and spend an evening reading a good book
• Visit your local senior center or a nursing home to play cards, help with bingo, or simply listen to the wonderful stories most older folks love to share
• Choose things to do that you want to do, not what others expect you to do
• Take a walk outside to get some fresh air and get away from the holiday bustle

None of these ideas will get rid of loneliness completely, of course, but they are a great way to re-focus your mind onto activities and pursuits that get you away from the unrealistic expectations of Christmas. You just might find that once you turn your attention elsewhere, you start feeling a whole lot better!

News & Views Christmas, Family, Holidays, Lonely