Old Familiar Faces

Along the way in this journey I have come across some old familiar faces. On three separate occasions, I've been paired up by dating sites with guys with whom I went to elementary school. And, once we've gotten past the awkwardness of acknowledging that we are perusing online dating sites for potential mates and the surprise of being matched up with one another on those sites, it's been fun.

But how should you handle such a situation? As with most situations in life, honesty is definitely the best policy. You should reconnect and lay your cards on the table. Are you both on the online dating site for the same reason. If so, then the possibility is worth a second look.

Then you ask more questions like, do you have common interests and are there any glaring reasons why this might not be a good idea. And you have to assess the risks. What if it doesn't work out? Who will it affect and how will it affect our future?

I have heard many people say that they don't want to pursue a relationship with someone they are already friends with because their chemistry is too good to risk destroying the relationship. And I've heard others say that dating someone they previously knew as a friend or coworker or classmate is out of the question because life is comfortable as is. I believe it's a risk worth taking. If your chemistry is so fantastic, it will still be intact if things don't work out. And even though you enjoy the memories you already have, making new memories might be fun.

I guess I've learned that you shouldn't freak out if you stumble upon old familiar faces along the way. It's only awkward and strange for a moment. And then it provides at the very least, a laugh. And at the most, a partner for life.