If you are still hesitating whether to try online dating, just give yourself a chance. That's what I did a year ago, installing https://naomidate.com/  on the advice of a friend. Without any special expectations, without a specific goal - I just wanted communication and new emotions. I didn't even guess that this would be the beginning of one of the warmest and most important stories in my life.

At first, everything seemed like a game: swipes, profiles, a couple of funny correspondences. I treated it with ease and humor. But pretty quickly I noticed that among the many random messages there are really interesting people. We discussed books, films, travel. Some conversations were short, and some dragged on for hours. And it was an amazing experience - to feel sincere interest, mutual interest and ease of communication again.

One of these coincidences turned out to be a person with whom we had many common interests. Already at the correspondence stage, I felt that it was easy with him. We weren’t trying to impress — we were just ourselves. And when we met in person, everything was confirmed. No falsehood, no “game” — just two people who are good together. We walked along the embankment, laughed, talked about the future. At that moment, I realized that online dating is not about “virtuality”. It is a very real path to real feelings.

I have had different experiences this year. There were interesting dialogues, there were also unsuccessful dates. Someone disappeared, someone simply did not fit. But all this is part of the path. I stopped perceiving it as something artificial. This is a new format of life, where you can be yourself, not be afraid of rejection and try again. After all, every new communication is a step forward. Even fleeting acquaintances teach something, broaden your horizons and help you understand yourself better.

One of the main advantages of dating is freedom. There are no obligations. You choose who to communicate with, for how long, how deeply. This allows you not to rush things, not to depend on other people's expectations. Communication becomes honest, natural, easy. And it really helps to build trust and respect - without pressure and masks.

Now I understand that online dating can be more than just a way to find a partner. It is a way to develop, open up, become bolder. It helped me overcome the fear of the first steps, gave me self-confidence, taught me to accept rejections without drama. I became freer and more honest - first of all, to myself.

Now I am in a happy relationship with that same person from Tinder. We travel together, make plans, laugh about how it all started - with a couple of messages in the chat. We are comfortable, calm and happy together. This relationship has become proof for me that the format is not important. Feelings, respect and sincerity are important. And where and how you meet is a matter of chance. Or a swipe.

So, if you are thinking about trying dating - my answer is yes. Just be yourself, don't be afraid to be vulnerable, and treat it as an opportunity. And maybe your story will start the same way - with a simple "Hi!" and one chance meeting that turns out to be fateful.