Hindsight is 20/20. We've all had relationships where after they're over, we look back and ask ourselves, "Why did I stay so long?" Chances are, we were in a situation we wished and thought could change, instead of being present in reality. But blaming ourselves for not clearly seeing what was in front of us is not the answer - the answer is learning to pay attention to our own needs early on, so we don't waste time and energy that would be much better spent on dating and finding someone truly compatible. Women especially have a tendency towards idealizing… more

When we're young and growing, for most of us, our parents are there to show us the difference between right and wrong. They show us, based on their perceptions, the acceptable social behaviors, emotional responses and moral consistencies which help us navigate through life. Through this mental evolution, and through the process of "disappointing" our parents, many of us associate making mistakes with pain and shame. Through the action of our parents telling us our natural human instincts (or behaviors/responses etc.), were "wrong", and depending on the level of parental skill involved, we can feel there is perhaps something inevitably,… more

The Dating world is a fascinating process, and as Canada's leading Speed Dating Service, we at 25dates.com have witnessed over 20,000 Canadian singles take part in our events over the course of eight years. Having such a prolonged and interesting inside look into the process, has allowed us to observe certain specific patterns of human nature, as well as social and economic trends. Up until now our observations have been experiential, but we recently decided to run some statistics to see if our observations about human nature and dating were correct.

The Seasons of Dating

Across eight years of operation,… more

A New Year's resolution is a personal commitment to positive change. Oftentimes though, once the bells and whistles have faded from our New Years' celebrations, the daunting task of the actual work involved in keeping a resolution overwhelms us. It's important to choose something that's actually attainable (not I will lose 50 pounds by March) - that way you won't disappoint yourself. One smart resolution that can help you in all areas of your life, like dating and relationships, is to change your attitude. We've all heard about The Secret, positive thinking, how energy attracts like energy etc., and while… more

Every year has its own distinct personality, and 2009 was certainly no different. We all experienced things as various groups; as a family, a city, a country, and as a world. Of course what we contribute individually helps determine the outcome of each group we're a part of, so it's important to look at how our personal responsibility affects ourself, and it turn, others. Using the end of the year as a marker, take a minute to review how you feel you did in 2009:

1. What did you learn about yourself this past year? Were there things that surprised… more

New Year's is the oldest of all holidays; first marked around 4,000 years ago, close to the year 2000 BC. At its inception however, the New Year was marked by the first new moon after the Spring Equinox, a logical time to celebrate, both agriculturally and astronomically. Celebrating New Year's on January 1st however, is completely arbitrary, due to the tampering of the Roman calendar by various emperors.

In 153 BC, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year in order to set the calendar right. However, the tampering continued… more

Earlier this year, we found an article on the internet called "Which Sex is Pickier", detailing a speed dating study at Northwestern University. If you've tried speed dating with 25dates.com or any other company for that matter, you'll know that traditionally we have the men rotating from table to table while the women stay seated. The Northwestern study, in which 350 undergrads participated, had women seated for 8 events, and men seated for the remaining 7 events.

What they found was very interesting. Regardless of gender, whomever was rotating experienced more confidence and romantic desire (as indicated by… more

We often hear stories about promising relationships getting derailed early on. While the breakup of an established relationship is often painful, so too is the end of a relationship that never really had a chance. It can leave us filled with regrets, wondering "what if", and often blaming ourselves for what went wrong. So what can we do to ensure we're not contributing to a relationship's demise before it even gets off the ground?

Tips to Nurture a New Relationship

1. Choose only those who are available physically and emotionally for the kind of relationship you want. If someone is… more

Last week, our article on Why Some Women Remain Single, inspired many comments from our female readers. As outlined in that article, we were shedding light on some of the psychological reasons why some women, who don't want to be single, are. Many of our readers are quite content to be single - it fits into their lifestyle, and is a personal choice and preference. This series of articles however, is intended for those (men and women) who wonder why they remain single; those who perhaps crave some outside perspective in order to create the necessary changes required… more

Throughout history, a very different picture has been painted when it comes to the Single Woman vs. the Single Man. Single men are seen as "bachelors" - independent, having fun, and enjoying life to its fullest before getting "chained down" by a woman. Single women on the other hand, have long been seen as less than whole if they're not attached, lonely spinsters, and cat ladies. Hopefully by now in the age of human equality, we all know these archaic views are just that - out of date, and untrue. However, the lingering effects of deep social strongholds can die… more