If you have been out of the dating game for so long that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to perform this customary dating ritual and need to know what you should do on a date, then I have some fine ideas to help you get through one of the most important steps in your healing process.
They say a date can’t go wrong with candlelight, flowers, a little wine and mood music, but let’s face it, isn’t that a little cliche. With a little creativity and imagination you can make every date an affair to remember! The perfect date is said to consist of the following elements:
An element of surprise! This not only tickles your lover’s fancy but also adds an air ofexcitement to the date. The next time you invite him or her out, don’t tell her where you are going. Imaginative lovers might even want to blindfold their partners until you reach the surprise destination – a picnic laid out for two in a park or a living room strewn with rose petals.
Creativity. It is definitely time to appeal to your imagination if the two of you find yourself stuck in a rut. Maybe you are renting a video and falling into bed every Friday night or eating at the same restaurant every day. Think of ways to entertain your lover, such as renting costumes and holding your very own “theme” night, complete with food in your apartment.
Mutual Interest. Try to remember which interests brought you together in the first place. Check the past to see if you are dragging a disinterested boyfriend to art openings or a bored girlfriend to football games. Are you both interested in art? Try making your own pottery. Do you both love animals? Try a trip to a zoo.
The following suggestions for creative, fun and imaginative dates also might help spice up your relationship as well as delight your partner on a first date!
A Night Under The Stars – Why not take your date to the planetarium to view the constellations from a telescope or watch the stars whirl beneath the dome?! Purists might want to consider finding somewhere private, in your garden or on a beach, laying out a blanket and candles and enjoying an evening together watching the stars in the real sky.
Amusement Park – Bring out your partner’s “child within” by treating your partner to cotton candy, rides on the Ferris wheel and shots at winning a stuffed toy.
Old Fashioned Picnic – Pack treats in a wicker hamper and bicycle out to your favorite park to relax in the sun and enjoy long conversations with each other.
Mini-Golf – Even dates that are professional golfers find this mutation of this game to be silly, fun and exciting. The relaxed pace of the game encourages conversation and lots of laughing.
Comedy Club – Liven things up by treating your date to an evening of stand-up comedy at a local club. This is a great suggestion for a first date as you can tell a lot about a person by what material amuses him or her and what material seems corny or offensive.
Zoos and Aquariums – Animals appeal to people’s sense of romance, as well as sense of humor. This is also a good suggestion for a first date as observing the antics of animals has a way of breaking the ice.
Skating – Break the ice, by taking your date roller or ice skating at a local rink. Follow this up with hot chocolate and conversation in a cozy cafe.
Zen Date – Relax your date by taking them to a meditation or light-working session at the local Buddhist temple. Relax afterwards by enjoying a good meal in an Indian restaurant.
Do You Have a Future Together? – Visit your local psychic together to have your palms and tarot cards read. Get a past-life reading to see if you have known each other in a past incarnation.
Who says you can’t see the future? This free sample Destiny Reading is your window into good things to come!
Art Tour – Spend a day together visiting all the art galleries and museums that you can. Make sure you visit the gift shop of the museum to buy your love a token that expresses your appreciation of him or her.
Antique Hunting – Look in the papers and treat your date to a day of scouring antique markets and flea markets for treasures.
Mazes and Labyrinths – If your city has a maze, see if you and your date can get lost together inside it. Walking a labyrinth together is not only said to be good for the soul, but it will help you define your goals together.
What’s For Dinner? – Sign the both of you up for a cooking class. You’ll be giggling and feeding each other delicious tid-bits in no time.
Feng Shui Date – Visit your local China Town and hunt for lucky charms, windmills and small statues to bring the two of you health, wealth and happiness. Finish your shopping excursion off with a meal for two at a Chinese restaurant.
Dancing Lessons – Enroll the two of you in dancing lessons so that you can learn classic moves such as tango, ballroom dancing or square dancing. This is especially nice for seniors on a first date who wish to break the ice.
Play in the Snow – If its snowy outside take advantage of the weather and build an ice sculpture or snowman together. Get on a toboggan together and slide downhill (holding each other very close of course.) Finish the day off with a hot chocolate or apple cider in front of a crackling fire.
Love Letters – Buy special paper and pens and make a date to sit across from each other at a table and write each other a love letter – in front of each other! You can call this letter “Ten Things I Love About You.” Then exchange the letters and read them out loud. Torrid romance almost always ensues right after this one!
King or Queen for A Day – Assign a date where you will treat your lover as if he or she is King or Queen for that day. The idea is that your date does not have to lift a finger while you meet every supply or demand. This package should include a foot rub as well as the proffering of the date’s favorite foods.
The Sunrise Date – Surprise your date by calling them early in the morning and asking if they want to meet to watch the sunrise with you. Drive to a beach or some other beautiful location. Afterwards share a brunch at a cozy restaurant.
The fact of the matter is it doesn’t matter what you do on your date, but more that you are out there looking to get back in the game. To sit around, and weep over a relationship gone bad, is not a healthy way to live. Put yourself out there, and who knows, you just might hit it big and find the real love of your life.
