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Janis Spindel

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Getting Back into the Dating Game: Life After Divorce

Posted: 06/13/2012 12:15 pm

Life after divorce can be overwhelming for the average divorcee. Some become serial daters for a few years followed by a committed, long-term relationship. Others jump out of the frying pan and into the flame by walking down the aisle right away. My piece of advice is plain and simple: get out there. As simple as it may seem, many men and women do not know where to start. Men and woman begin this process differently.

Women: You need to piece yourself back together! Anything you let fall apart when you were married, mend it. Love yourself again for who you are. Once you begin to love yourself again, men will follow suit. If you exude confidence, you can attract any type of man you want. The biggest turn on is confidence.

Men: Be a typical guy, jump into bed with all the girls you meet and get it out of your system. Falling into "lust" is not going to find you a wife. Once you've "sown your oats" then you should be ready for a committed relationship. Be aware there will be a band-aid and she will unfortunately be the one to get hurt. Soon after that, you will be ready to seriously start dating. Eventually, you will find her -- when the timing is right.

You may be asking yourself, so how exactly do you suggest I put myself out there? Putting yourself out there can be as easy as widening your interests or finally doing that one thing you have always wanted to do but never had the chance. Join a club or a new gym. If you do this, you're bound to meet people -- even if it's just friends. By making friends, you meet their friends and consequently you are continually widening your circle, which can eventually lead to finding "the one." If you are still a bit shell-shocked or shy, the best thing you can do is try online dating.

Online dating allows you to be the person you want to be. The screen allows you to say -- or type -- the things that you may be scared to say in person. It allows you to bring out the real you, without any insecurities holding you back. Online dating allows you to sit in the comfort of your home, in your pajamas, eating ice cream, while getting to know new people. Best of all, you're putting yourself out there.

Rip off the band-aid that is holding you back and take a leap of faith. Put yourself back together, exude confidence and try something new -- whether it's signing up for an online dating service or asking out that person you've been eyeing. Life is about timing; when it's right it will happen and you will find the right person.

 
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Life after divorce can be overwhelming for the average divorcee. Some become serial daters for a few years followed by a committed, long-term relationship. Others jump out of the frying pan and into t...
Life after divorce can be overwhelming for the average divorcee. Some become serial daters for a few years followed by a committed, long-term relationship. Others jump out of the frying pan and into t...
 
 
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02:19 AM on 07/30/2012
This article must have been written by a Man, which explains the lousy advice. Women wouldn't have to settle for casual sex, if men didn't cheat to begin with. Lets face it, Men don't want long term relationships. They can't handle the idea of being in a monogamous relationship. Why settle for sampling a Vanilla Wafer, when there are so many varieties of "Cookies" out there to sample from. Lets face it the older a women gets their men eyes start wandering and wanting younger women. and too many great women get hurt in the process. it's a real mind phuuc.
07:35 AM on 06/30/2012
Don't rush things, but make sure to give yourself the chance to get to know other people. You will find someone who deserves you. http://womensdivorcelawreview.com
09:43 PM on 06/14/2012
Dating is anachronistic. A waste of time. There are better ways to meet people. Like music? Talk to others at a music event. LIke art? Go to art galleries. Museums? Strike up a conversation at the mummy case.

That doesn't work for you? Do your friends have friends? No? As a last resort, try meeting someone online, but only if you're truly desperate and please, set your expectations to a reasonable level.

Good luck.
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Edogg62
04:35 PM on 06/14/2012
Here's the #1 secret to dating after a divorce... Don't. You're welcome... next question... ha ha.
11:28 AM on 06/14/2012
I believe that one should do what they think would benefit them the most, whatever it may be.
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Willie12345
09:56 AM on 06/14/2012
"Be a typical guy, jump into bed with all the girls you meet and get it out of your system." ---- Guess the author has a low opinion of men. Why would a man want to mislead, use or hurt a lot of women ?
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jf12
When I saw her I marveled greatly.
01:00 PM on 06/14/2012
It often makes me wonder if that's what women want.
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DevRock
03:37 PM on 06/14/2012
Some of us stuck in long-term, sexually unsatisfying relationships might want to start enjoying sex. If it's consensual, what's the problem?
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Willie12345
07:27 AM on 06/15/2012
If the women is being misled or deceived, then there is a problem. I assuming we're talking about false pretenses. That may be a poor assumption.
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11:26 PM on 06/13/2012
If a newly divorced woman really wants to feel special and back on her feet, she needs to get out there and sleep with as many men as possible.

Casual sex is a wonderful palliative for the uncertainty and anxiety that so many divorced women feel.
01:10 AM on 06/14/2012
Or translated : go out and catch an STD.....that will certainly replace any anxiety divorced women
feel.
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02:36 AM on 06/14/2012
So much shame and sexual repression....tsk, tsk.
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JD Salinger
My micro-bio is invisible to the naked eye.
05:22 PM on 06/13/2012
Whoa, I didn't realize men and women were so different and that the men who work on themselves and the women who sleep around are both doing it wrong.
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jf12
When I saw her I marveled greatly.
04:33 PM on 06/13/2012
All of the divorcing women I've known have done the opposite of what you say: they sowed their oats for a short time, just because they could, the shut down altogether. All of the divorcing men I've known have done the opposite of what you say (unless they were cheaters to begin with): they didn't go out with anyone for a long time, not really by the man's choice.
12:08 AM on 06/14/2012
I think you make a lot of sense. I am guessing the women are "fixing" the insecurity by "sowing their oats" only to find that it doesn't really work out in the end. The fix is fleeting. As for the guys, I'd guess the cheaters don't really change (likely true of either sex).

For the dad's (either fighting for custody or with custody), I am guessing they are pretty focused on their kids. This isn't to say moms aren't, just that we don't really have to fight for joint custody and often have primary custody handed to us without too much of a battle (or thought on our part). That focus changes how important a priority you make dating (not to mention casual sex).
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jf12
When I saw her I marveled greatly.
01:26 AM on 06/14/2012
I think it's just plain easier for almost all women to get sex than almost all men. A lot easier.
01:31 AM on 06/16/2012
I agree with you on teh women part. I did my time with who I wanted, got what I wanted, and no strings attached. Went through periods of a "man hating trip" even. Nothing wrong with women taking the reins and doing what they have to to get by. If men can do it, why can't women.
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jf12
When I saw her I marveled greatly.
08:21 AM on 06/16/2012
Women always can do it, but almost all men CANNOT do it because women don't like them. Women don't count most men as men.
03:39 PM on 06/13/2012
online dating allows you to lie, too.
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eagle48
02:24 PM on 06/13/2012
Don't talk about your failed marriage on a date. I've been married for years, but back when I was dating, I hated it if a divorced guy started complaining about his ex-wife. It was a total turn off. Dating should be fun, and if you aren't at the point where you can go out with someone and not belabor your divorce, you aren't ready to date.
12:57 PM on 06/13/2012
Women need to fix their broken selves, and men need to sleep around. Did I just read that correctly?! Good grief! I find this advice both comical and shocking in its sexism.

How about this: men and women should BOTH look inward, and should both have some fun playing the field. Men and women should be thoughtful about their choices, try to learn from their previous relationships as they move forward. Both sexes should go out and have some fun, but both should do it in a way that is not hurtful to themselves or others.

I'm not a broken being who needs to be fixed in order to find a man, and I've got lots of confidence, thank you. And when the men who follow your advice find me, I'm going to laugh them off, because I don't want to date frat boys who are out to score. But... I'm not opposed to a little mutual sexual healing, and I look forward to my rebound man (with whom I will be clear about where I am at). Women are sexual beings, too, but let's be thoughtful about our choices!

Giving women the message that they are broken, and giving men permission to go out and hurt women, is not helping either gender. Yikes. This is not thoughtful advice.
01:31 PM on 06/13/2012
Oops, I just realized I stereotyped frat boys. Sorry. What I should have said is I don't want to date boys who are just out to score - I know there are all kinds of frat boys out there, including kind and sweet ones. My mistake.

http://pollyannasdivorce.blogspot.com
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11:27 PM on 06/13/2012
How about this - everyone needs to sleep around. Yes - the real solution to the post-divorce blues.
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KrassC
01:42 PM on 06/13/2012
I know, I thought this was satire at first.