Writing A Good Over 70 Dating Profile

Remember the lonely hearts column in the Sunday paper? You paid by the word, so you squeezed your whole life into a dozen lines and hoped for the best. Or the friend who set you up with her cousin from Benoni, who talked about nothing but his Valiant all evening. Thankfully, times have changed. An online profile lets you say as much or as little as you like, in your own time, with a cup of tea at your elbow.

Many of us freeze when asked to write about ourselves. The trick is to forget about impressing anyone and simply share a few stories, the kind you would tell round the fire at a braai.

Where did you grow up, and where has life taken you since? Were you a rugby fanatic, a netball star or the one who kept score? Do you grow your own vegetables, bake a mean milk tart or play bowls every Saturday? Children, grandchildren, a dog that rules the house? A short, funny story about your pets or your travels says far more about you than a list of adjectives ever could.

A few subjects are best saved for later. Long stories about past marriages can make a reader wonder whether you are ready to move on, so keep it brief or leave it for a chat over coffee. Politics is another one. This is South Africa, after all, and a dating profile is no place to start a debate that could outlast load shedding.

Still stuck? Write about what you would love to do with someone special. A weekend in the Drakensberg, a drive to see the Namaqualand flowers in spring, Sunday lunch at your favourite spot, or simply a sundowner on the stoep. Using "we" and "us" now and then helps a reader picture themselves right there beside you.

Above all, be honest, be cheerful and be yourself. The right person will like you just the way you are.

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