Happy endings do happen. Here’s a message from a 40-year old woman in Ohio who found love on Match.com:

Match provides an almost infinite pool of men that I would have never met…both good and bad. I have learned that to find love I had to be patient, a risk taker, have faith and be open to love.

I fell for a man who when he made mistakes knew how to say he was sorry. He is not perfect but was vulnerable enough to let me see that he wasn’t perfect. He genuinely loved children, which was my first on the criteria list and knows how to treat me like the lady I am…far beyond the first few dates.

He was tenacious and when we had problems, he cared enough to try to remedy them. He was honest about his job, marital status, income, interests and most importantly honest about what he wanted in a woman and in a relationship (so many of you have unrealistic expectations) He wasn’t pushy in any sense and let me take my time in the relationship.

Those of you who are interested in match as a site to solicit sex (and you are out there), I believe there are other sites that would be more conducive to your needs…just my opinion, but I don’t think Match.com markets itself in that direction.

This site as many of you have found can enhance the ego when you are down, boost the self-esteem when needed but ultimately must be the crutch that must be let go.

I was a personal trainer, and I always said that I have done my job when my clients no longer needed me and sometimes it was my job to let them know just that.

To all of you that have been honest and gentlemanly, I say thanks to you for making my dating and entry back into the single life a rewarding experience. I have made a few good friendships from this site from dates that weren’t love matches but enticing enough to provide something else very important: friendship. You are the reason that I refer Match.com to friends who are looking for love or something as simple as a platform or launching pad back into the dating world.

It is always prudent to be careful when using this site because much like the traditional dating scene, there are unscrupulous people.

To those of you who have lied about everything from age, weight, marital status and job to children… shame on you. You will never find what you are looking for if you are not honest, and as many of you have already found out, the truth does eventually surface…I promise you it does.

My advice to those of you that aren’t honest is this: Match.com is growing by leaps and bounds and dating online no longer ensures your anonymity even when you don’t provide a picture if you are telling even 1/2 the truth. Everyone seems to want to take a look at match.com, and it is no longer taboo to do so.

Online dating is making its way into the acceptable world of mainstream dating. I met some grandmothers that have used this site…amazing! I could write a very interesting book on my experiences and those that my friends have shared.

For those of you who were bothered by the fact that I didn’t work while a full-time grad student raising three children, maybe I’ll publish the book, get rich and be on Dr. Phil. He and I have a match connection.

To the love seekers, learn to ask very pointed questions up front and don’t be timid or embarrassed about finding out what you need from someone. This is an excellent forum to do so.

I have friends and loved ones that have used this site to further enhance their lives, some of which have ended in marriage.

To my friends and those hopeful about love. Take care and have some faith.

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