THE ART OF SENIOR DATING outlines a twelve-step program geared toward seniors who are seeking guidance in finding the right partner, whether it be for basic companionship, a travel buddy, a romantic escapade, or marriage. Author Ravina M Chandra touches upon many aspects of determining a good match, including figuring out what one really wants from a relationship, building the confidence to be proactive about finding someone, ways to meet prospects, and understanding the ins and outs of online dating. While targeted at older citizens, some of the advice given could be beneficial to people of any age.
The most basic yet important takeaways from this book are the importance of people knowing what they want in a relationship and where to find compatible partners. Chandra reminds readers that waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right to knock on their door while lounging around the house in sweatpants will not likely pan out, nor will looking in the wrong places. Unfortunately, it often takes doing something outside of one’s comfort zone to find someone. For those who are leaving one relationship behind and in search of another, Chandra advises people to determine if they had quelled a part of themselves in order to satisfy the other person, and if so, then regroup. She cites the Barrett Values Centre for an inexpensive value assessment tool for this purpose.
Not all of Chandra’s advice is practical for everyone, such as getting rid of all one’s clothes that are five years old or older. Some would be left with an empty closet if they did that. Nor will reducing one’s wardrobe to two suits, a nice pair of dress pants, a few fitted cotton shirts, a few sweaters, a nice coat, a pencil skirt (for women), and shoes for going out, working out, and dressing up. Most people require a more complete wardrobe than this. And while Chandra backs up most of her claims with sources listed in the References section at the back of the book, some statements are lacking such validation, including, “People in stable, happy relationships also have better heart health”, “If you are sadder and feel alone, you are more likely to drink alcohol or pop pills to feel better”, and “It’s important to realize that, as men age, they see relationships differently. With less of a focus on sex drive, they appreciate women more for their intelligence and advice on making major life decisions.”
Ravina M Chandra’s THE ART OF SENIOR DATING is a helpful, easy-to-follow twelve-step program for those who are struggling and/or afraid to seek out a meaningful relationship and could potentially help people of all ages find a compatible partner.
~Florence Osmund for IndieReader