September Dare Count

To date,
Dares received: 26
Dares completed: 13

1. Create a blog
2. Wake up everyday and smile and stretch
3. Get highlights
4. Relax and sample new adventures (on the cheap)
5. Go to a drag show
6. Complete this puzzle
7. Fund-raiser walk
8. Paint a portrait of someone I love(d)
9. Read a fiction classic of at least 300 pages
10. Become a raw food believer for one week
11. Visit my parents in Bellingham
12. Join Match.com for one month 
13. Volunteer with a cause you believe in but gets you out of your comfort zone

Dares busted: 2

1. Visit Wenmiao/The Ghost Market in Shanghai 
2. Dance on the Bund with a local Shanghainese

Dares in progress: 1

1. Run a 10K (race on 10/11!)

Dares on deck...

• Visit the geographic center of the US

Talk to a complete stranger at least once week and say hello to a new person everyday (Michael & Katelyn Corts) a

This is life-changing. Incorporating this into my everyday is truly life-changing. I can't say I am perfect, but I consciously make a few efforts to be able to meet this goal without having to keep track everyday.

Uphams Corner commuter rail platform

On my morning walks with Lola, I say "Good morning" to everyone I pass which tends to be a lot of kids and parents waiting for the school bus. I also say, "Good morning" to everyone I stand with on the commuter rail platform on my way to work. No more shrinking away. I meet people's eyes on the street as I pass them, and I smile and/or say "Hello". 

I love it. I feel like I'm being a better neighbor and I feel like I am getting a good start to the day. I go to bed at night and feel connected to the place I live. All it took was a conscious look at my surroundings and acknowledgment of the people in them. Thank you!

Join Match.com for one month (Laura Brelsford)

First and very importantly, thank you, Laura. Participating in Match was a challenge for me and pushed me to examine my personal connections and my expectations of them.

I had been hesitant to think an online format would be good for me for a few reasons:

1) I like to meet people face to face. My humor doesn't translate into written format. Does my vivacious personality jump off the computer screen? I am not the person that has a type; I am more about a vibe. Can I vibe off an email?

2) I don't feel good about "judging" other profiles. It honestly makes me feel gross and judgmental. I don't know anything about these people.  I can't seem to get a sense of a person from an artificial email exchange or well (or poor in some cases) edited profile. Is the person they are presenting the person they are? Did I present the person I am?

3) I want my date to court me. I spend a lot of time being a liberated woman - opening my own doors, paying for my own drinks, striving for independence, etc. What the hell am I supposed to do with a wink?

I don't think online dating is bad or lacks results for people, just questioned whether it was for me. This sounds like a lot of negativity, but really it is just my concerns about online dating. Despite my stated reservations, I gave it my best efforts to be open minded and active; my best efforts included:

1. I logged on everyday so it showed I was active in the last 24 hours.
2. I freshened my profile once a week.
3. I winked back to people who winked at me.
4. I emailed people who emailed me.
5. I thoughtfully reviewed all of the 5 Daily Matches and profiles in Singled Out that Match found for me.

Aside from the logistics of the dare, Match and this process reminded me that the person I need to focus my smiles, creativity and humor is - me. Living my life is where I find the most happiness and when things are right, I will be able to share that. I am SO grateful I had this chance to reflect. 

All that said... I met a wonderful guy doing this, and although that didn't work out long term,

does that negate all my questions about Match and me? Who knows; who cares? Sometimes it is more important to be happy than right. That was kind of the point; wasn't it, Laura?