Love in the Time of COVID
Most of my friends currently have their therapist on speed dial during this frustrating and depressing time. And, from what I’m told, therapists have their therapists on speed dial as well.
Suicides are on the rise. Drug abuse is up. Overeating is up. And now, what I am finding, so is dating. Really? Yep. People have become desperate for physical interaction. Not just an elbow bump, but real, old-world affection. But how can you meet someone in isolation?
More people than ever are now scouting out options on dating sites to find a compatible distraction. At one point, people who had led busy, productive lives, allowing only limited time to reach out and meet someone, are now, out of abject loneliness, available to you.
Fifty percent of the country’s population lives alone, and after four months of a “no touch” policy, people are craving contact. A single friend of mine told me that hook-up apps like Tinder are flooded with people swiping right to get noticed. I don’t advise a hookup with a random temporary partner, ever, and obviously not during a pandemic. However, on more dating-leaning apps like Match, E-Harmony, Hinge, Bumble, and Our Time, there’s a preponderance of high-quality men and women actively searching for a potential love interest—not just window-shopping, they’re eager to “buy.” If you’re interested in meeting new people, this could be your time.
Yes, take precaution. My friend uses video platforms to interview possible suitors, explicit that she’s not interested in seeing the potential partner’s nether regions splayed across the screen. You would think this would be obvious, but there’s apparently a lot of skin being shared on platforms like Zoom and Skype.
If you want to meet your dream date in person, then do that. Wear your mask and sit far enough apart to stay safe but be able to chat. Many people prefer meeting in a park, which is good on two levels. You’ll be outdoors where it’s allegedly safer in terms of thwarting contagion. Also, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and comment on others around you. Distractions can sometimes take the edge off awkward or tense moments, which are pretty common for any first date.
We all hoped that the virus would just go away, “like a miracle,” like our president likes to promise, but it’s clear this virus isn’t going away anytime soon. Thanks to technology, being isolated doesn’t mean having to be alone.
Get more tips about getting out of your own way in Your Self Sabotage Survival Guide by Karen Berg: https://tinyurl.com/y786t4ax)