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

Online dating sites have evolved from being the playground of losers who couldn’t get a date any other way to a modern, mainstream, and well-accepted staple of dating and the singles scene. What makes online dating so exciting, though, is its ability to serve smaller groups of singles that might otherwise be left out of the mix. For rural singles especially, online dating has given a new hope to their search for a significant other.

For generations, those living in rural areas faced unique dating challenges simply because of their location. Relatively isolated areas with small populations, long distances to traditional cities, and a lack of easy access to modern technology all combined to make it really tough for singles to meet and date. Think small town where everybody knows everybody else and it’s easy to imagine how hard it can be for rural singles to meet a variety of other singles for dating.

The tremendous growth of online dating sites has changed all of that; now more than ever, rural singles are steppin’ out in the dating world and enjoying the kind of access to a broad range of other singles that they haven’t had previously.

Some of the top dating sites for rural singles include:

• RuralSingles.com
• CountryPassions.com
• FarmersOnly.com
• MuddyMatches.com

These sites specialize in bringing single together who otherwise face a lot of isolation and separation due to the rural lifestyle they live. Now more than ever, rural singles are able to access the same variety of singles and enjoy the same kind of dating success that their city-dwelling counterparts have taken for granted for many, many years.

Dating Essentials Lonely, Niche, Rural

When you’re down on your luck, sometimes the last thing you want to do is to go out and to meet people. After all, who wants to be with someone who’s moping around and is depressed? But when times are tough, why not reach out to others – you might find love in the process.

If you’ve found yourself ‘between jobs,’ getting out of the house is one of the best things you can do for your mood. Instead of sitting around, worrying about your life, you should think about ways you could help those even more less fortunate – by volunteering. Not only will this fill your days, but it will also fill your heart.

You will feel better about your situation and in turn, you will be able to meet others who are in the same position as you. Working toward a common goal is a great way to meet someone who you might even consider dating – after all, you already have one thing in common. And as an added benefit, knowing that someone else is volunteering their time and talents shows you just how nice of a person they might really be.

So, why not help others while helping yourself at the same time? This recession might just be the best opportunity to spread love and to receive love in return.

Self Confidence Depression, Lonely, Money, Recession, Volunteering