Dating can be terrifying for anyone: meeting new people, putting ones heart (and ego!) on the line, investing time and energy into relationships youre not even sure will work out. But it is especially difficult for those who have been hurt before.
My ex-husband cheated on me several times before we finally got divorced, recalls Emma, 28. I was so afraid to trust someone again. Through online dating, she was able to get to know men at a much slower, more comfortable pace. Wed exchange emails, call each other, until I was personally ready to meet them face to face, she said. I didnt feel rushed to make a decision. I had full control every step of the way. It took her 3 months before she agreed to have lunch with Steve. Theyve been together for 2 years, and theyre already talking about getting married.
Cecille, 25, had never been comfortable about the traditional dating scene. Shes always been shy, and the whole routine of hanging out in the bar and waiting for someone to buy her drinks was never her thing. Besides, Im the kind of girl that prefers reading a book in a quiet coffee shop, she said. Online dating allowed her to meet people in a way that suited her...