Holidating

by Benjamin Todd — November 30, 2007

It is my contention that there is no worse time to be single. Winter days are short, the nights are cold, and nothing sounds better on a Friday night than a blanket, a bowl of popcorn, and a movie. But not having anyone to share any of those things with certainly puts on damper on December. I love this time of the year, but I always seem to find myself alone on New Years and wishing I had someone around to spend money on come Christmas.

But, this year will be different. This year I'm going to be proactive. I'm tired of the bar scene. Not tired of going out to bars and not tired of drinking holiday cheer (4oz eggnog, 1oz kahlua), just tired of trying to meet someone in some crowded, inebriated setting. So, this year I'm going to take advantage of all the opportunities that the season provides.

A wise man once told me that there's never a bad place to introduce yourself to someone. Whether or not you agree with the statement, the overall message is that being aggressive is more productive than not. So, this year I will:

• Introduce myself to at least hottie on the ski slopes. I promise not to pre-judge her if she is a snowboarder or if she's a beginner. The point is to find a date, not to undulate.
• Flirt with a fellow shopper. There are way too many good-looking people this time of year mobbing though malls to not take advantage of the situation. I think I may find a frequent sudden need for a stranger's help in picking out something for my non-existent sister.
• Volunteer a weekend at a soup kitchen. Whether you're a devil or a saint, we could all do a little more to help out the needy this season. Good karma aside, I'd be happy to meet someone as giving as I am.
• Make conversation on the plane ride back home. There always seems to be at least one attractive traveler that seems to be flying back to my home city. It's time I found an excuse to sit next to her. If it worked for my friend Kevin (on a plane ride home from Thanksgiving), it could work for anyone.
• Go to every holiday party I'm invited to. I'm not one for large social gatherings where I don't know anyone except for the host (particularly if I'm going alone). But whoever has invited me to their party obviously likes to spend time with me , so their other friends can't be that bad. Going alone may just force me to introduce myself to someone under the mistletoe.