Last Tuesday on a whim, I posted a comment on Facebook about a topic that had crept up in my casual conversations a few times recently over beers, across breakfast tables and through emails.
A number of single ladies in the metro Grand Rapids have confided in me that they feel it is getting harder to meet their soul mates in this area, but the odd part is other women say the exact opposite is true for them.
Since I have been in a relationship for the past 13 years, I am far from current on the singles scene, so I turned to that modern electronic version of the coffee klatch – Facebook.
As I pushed the publish button, I braced myself for an inbox full of smartass comments. But what I ended up with at the end of the day was almost 60 postings to the thread, with a substantial number of private notes from people all weighing in on the topic. I had hit more than a publish button in our community.
As the thread grew, it wasn't just the ladies who felt this issue but the men as well. This sort of confirmed what I have experienced over the years from visiting big cities where similar discussions occur about how hard it is to meet people.
Normally I would take a stab at suggesting a solution, but G-Sync doesn't have enough space to do the topic justice. Some have suggested I host an event, but the scope of the issue is much bigger than hosting a party for my Facebook circle.
So I want to step off the "Hook Me Up, Tommy" train and instead provide the sort of advice that I think is most valuable to someone who is looking for a person with like interests – suggest events of a certain pedigree that have a spirit of adventure built into them.
I rarely suggest an event to readers that will draw 10,000 people. I'd prefer to send you to places where you will feel welcome and special through an experience that highlights something wonderful or, in the case of the Outhouse 500, unique about our region.
And this week is no different. We have plenty of wonderful choices for the craft beer drinker, the sports enthusiast, the religious, the music hipster, the environmentalist and even the potty humorist.
Don't get me wrong. I'm always ready to make an introduction if I can. It's just that I can be more effective by suggesting the what, where and when of meeting someone, rather than the who and how. And that certainly heightens the adventure part of the dating experience. All you have to remember is you are always welcome at the events highlighted in G-Sync, so make yourself at home here.
The Future Needs All of Us (to be there for each other.)
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
Email:
[email protected]Twitter Feed: @
TommyGSync
Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events.Photo from ArtPrize Kissing Booth provided by Tommy Allen of
Tanglefoot Studio
Press Releases for upcoming events in the West Michigan area should be sent to
[email protected]. Please include high res jpg images that are at least 500 pixels wide.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.