That comment gave me a jolt and I wondered why someone would want creativity to be instant. Isn’t the process of creativity; the inspiration, the vision, the conception all a part of the journey? Then I thought about the current status of relationships and how the majority of them were probably born from instant gratification.

We’ve created a world of microwavable relationships and dating. We have speed dating, online dating, and even digital dating which seems to be taking the place of regular dating. Text messaging, video chats and webcams are taking the place of phone calls, love letters and old fashion flirting.

I love technology and I have to admit some of these are very exciting. I shy away from online dating services, but recently one of my favorite magazines had a special article that featured 100 eligible men who were looking for love and if you wanted more information you could check out the magazine’s website. On the site, were professionally posed photographs of these men along with personal profiles, stats and an answer to the question, “What was your most romantic date” along with their email addresses.

For almost two hours, I spent time on the site looking at the pictures, reading the profiles and even taking the short quiz that would show me my matches. It only came up with 3, (yikes) but that requires a whole other subject for a different article. I had to admit that it was fun but after the initial gratification, the moment was gone and I felt a little deflated.

I think ‘instant’ is taking the romance out of relationships. I’m not even talking about when our parents used to court each other. If you look back to only five years ago to your friends who are still in long relationships, who are married or the way you used to date back then.

I envy that time and I envy them. Is this what we have to look forward to…where the criteria for really getting to know someone will be the key words on a computer (dark hair, 30’s, love’s children, non-smoker) instead of a face-to-face over coffee? Will old-fashion romance be taken over by techno-intimacy?

When I first hopped on the internet dating bandwagon, I wasn’t truthful about what I was interested in. As a result, I ended up going on a date with a balding, 50 year old divorced male who brought his kids along on the date. Needless to say, I got the heck out of dodge as soon as I could. If I had crafted my online dating profile the correct way (and if HE had been honest, too!) that disastrous scenario would never have happened.

Before you can even think about joining an online dating site, you need to review a few of them and see what suits your purposes. Are you looking for a casual fling? An intimate relationship? Marriage? Figure out what you want, and choose an internet dating site that matches what you need. Certain sites are geared more towards long-term relationships, while others offer the chance to meet up with interested parties for a casual fling. Whatever the case may be, you might have to try a few sites before you find one that works for you.

Another thing to keep in mind is the demographic of the particular site you sign up with. I completely ignored my own advice and signed up for several different dating sites that offered very few “matches” I was actually interested in! If you know what you like, find a site that seems to cater to the demographic of people you’re interested in. Seriously, save yourself the trouble of finding out you aren’t compatible with anyone, like I discovered!

While most of the online dating sites I signed up for were free, I did accept a free trial at a few paid dating sites, which brings me to my next point. And although free dating services are great because they are, well… free, I noticed I had more luck finding compatible matches on the paid membership sites. Why is that?

Well, with a free online dating site, everyone and their brother can sign up. They might not be really serious about finding the love of their life online, or their profile remains inactive and you’re unable to contact them.

A paid membership site, on the other hand, offers a little more security. If you’re paying for the privilege of matching up with potential dates, you’re probably more serious about your intentions – and other members who use that site probably are, too! As a matter of fact, a potential match from a dating site I belonged to ended up in a long-term relationship with me. While we didn’t ultimately work out, it’s a little evidence on my part that paid membership sites typically have better odds than free sites.

If you’re tired of the traditional dating scene in your city, you may want to give online dating a try. While you may not meet the perfect match, it can’t be any worse than bar hopping every weekend!

Choosing 25 words that will magically open the eyes of your potential life partner and ignite their curiosity can be difficult. Here are some guidelines that will help ensure that your online profile has everything that it needs to get you noticed and set apart from the crowd.

The first rule is to be honest. If you intend to actually meet the person who responds to your ad, then you need to be honest. Not only should your profile ad be honest, but you should use a recent photo as well. If you are in your thirties, your high school graduation picture is not a suitable choice for your profile. Also, if you were a cheerleader in high school or captain of the football team, but haven’t seen a football or pom-poms in the past forty years, it is probably a good idea to omit these hobbies from your online profile. Your profile should be an honest and accurate description of where you are in the current stage of your life, but it should be written in an engaging as well as informative manner.

If you are including a headline (separate from your word count) then you should choose something original and catchy. Instead of using something like, "fun loving girl" why not try something more unique and attention grabbing. If your headline shows action, you’re more likely to get a response. If you like sports why not try a headline such as, "Laker Fan, Let's Play Ball!" With a little creativity and imagination, you can come up with your own catchy headline that will make your ad stand out.

The body of your profile ad is where you will place all of your pertinent information. The body should include information regarding your physical appearance, hobbies, likes, dislikes, employment status and occupation. It is important not to include negative qualities or traits in your ad. By keeping your ad in a positive manner you’ll attract more positive and friendly people. You don’t have to be an English major to write a great ad, just make sure that you include important information and stay honest. By doing this and having a catchy headline, you can ensure that your ad will stand out from the rest.

First, if you have a particular hobby or interest, chances are that if you meet someone with that same interest, you will have a solid foundation to build on. Whether it is religion, politics, or sexual orientation, you will want to meet people that hold the same values as you do. Therefore, it is a good idea to circulate in areas where you are likely to meet singles that share the same values. Churches, community events and meetings, and social groups are a great way to find relationships that will last. Becoming a member of any local, social, or community group that shares your beliefs will help open the door to meeting those with similar thoughts. Though you never want to join any organization for the sole purpose of meeting new people, chances are abundant that you will meet someone through the variety of social groups, activities, and functions.

Conventions are also a great way to meet people who share similar interests. Whether it is a hobby or business related, conventions attract numerous visitors and you are sure to meet new people. Additionally, you may be surprised to find that friendships naturally evolve into romance in your workplace. Depending upon your employer’s company rules, you may find that work is a great place to meet that special someone.

Online dating and personal want ads are also great ways to meet new people. However, it is recommended that you always utilize caution and common sense when meeting strangers. However, there are numerous online dating sites that will assist you in your search and help you make a match. Many people have found true love this way, and it may work for you as well.

If you have a friendly disposition, you may find that you can meet people in a number of "ordinary" locations. For example, smiling at someone in the grocery store, while standing in line at the bank, or when waiting for a train can open the door to conversation. Nature has its own way of introducing people when the chemistry is right, so always be open to meeting new people.

Some studies have shown that men and women who are divorced have a higher rate of a second divorce. If you are looking for marriage, then you may want to stay clear of divorcees. Based on that assumption, you may want to join groups according to your age range. For example, collegiate groups are a great way to meet other single twenty-somethings. By basing your relationships on your hobbies, personal interests, and likes you are sure to meet someone that you hold common values with.

An online dating site offers singles the ability to post their photos, create a personal profile, and receive emails by potential mates who are interested in further communication. Since the Internet allows for greater communication, it is wise to always protect your personal information and only share it with another when you feel 100% confident that you can trust your new friend. To begin with, you should create a free "anonymous" email account and use that one for your profile. Never use your main account. After you have set up your email account, you are all set to join the online dating site.

Many members choose to meet offline after they have been communicating for a while via the site. Some people may feel uncomfortable meeting with people offline. Today, there are many services that will provide group meetings for their members. If this is a concern of yours, be sure to find out what type of services the site offers for their members.

Some sites are free, while others may require a fee for more advanced services. The free sites are just as popular as paid sites. Most paid sites generally run between $20.00-$50.00 per month. Always read the terms of services (TOS) before joining a site. There are numerous sites to choose from, so you may prefer to pick one based on recommendations from family and friends. You should ensure that the site would let you post photos before joining, since viewing a photo is a critical aspect in choosing whom you will be compatible with.

You can also choose an online dating site based upon the type of service it provides. For example, there are a variety of sites that cater to different groups. Some of these include:

Adult Dating

Gay Dating

Lesbian Dating

Ethnic Groups

Divorced

Single Parent

Baby Boomers

Religious Dating

Age Related (twenty something, thirty something, etc.)

Senior Dating

Inter Generational

Political Dating

The best way to determine which online dating site is best for you is to narrow down and determine exactly what you are looking for. You may feel most comfortable by making a list of the type of qualities that you are looking for in a mate, and then choose the dating site that caters to your needs. You may also find it beneficial to take some personality tests to determine what your qualities would be best featured in your potential mate. If these types of services are important to you, be sure to check ahead of time to ensure that the site offers these before signing up or joining.

5 Popular Online Dating Sites :

Date.com

JDate.com

Match.com

Perfectmatch.com

Yahoo Personals