Contributed by: kellyseal on Monday, June 06 2011 @ 09:27 am
Last modified on
The mantra “50 is the new 40” has caught on among those approaching mid-life, and rightly so. Most are healthy, physically active, and life expectancies are on the rise. They are also established in their careers. Do these factors mean that traditional preferences of dating someone close to your age really matter?
For some, age preference is based on whether or not they want to start a family, and for others, it’s a cultural divide. But many singles are starting to date others who are ten, fifteen, or even twenty years older or younger. Regardless of where you currently stand on the subject, the real question is, what are your priorities when it comes to forming a relationship, and should age enter the equation?
If having a family is your top priority, of course age matters. But many women are now having children into their 40’s, and some younger women have fertility issues despite their youth. If you have a strict requirement, like you won’t date women older than 30 because you want a family, you may want to broaden your search to 35 or 38.
For others, there may be a cultural divide. If you date younger women but find that you don’t have much in common, it may be time to rethink your strategy. Sometimes it’s a matter of the influence of our friends and family have over us. People from different backgrounds meet and fall in love every day, but for some this presents a significant hurdle. For instance, if you start dating an older woman and introduce her to your family, will they judge you? Are you worried about the rude comments your friends might make when you’re with them? It’s necessary to consider these factors and how they make you feel, but remember: it’s your life and you are the one living it. Don’t surrender your own happiness to please someone else.
Older daters have other issues to consider. If you are a divorcee in your fifties, do you want to date men who are 70 and may have health concerns in a few years? Or should you consider each man individually before you decide to write off all 70 year-olds?
I think that for the most part, age shouldn’t be a determining factor in whether or not you date someone. People fall in love every day with the partners they least expect. Consider what you want in a relationship, and take it from there. After all, if you’re a 31 year-old woman who won’t date men older than 36, then you could be missing out on the fantastic 42 year-old who would be a great partner for you. Do you want to take that chance?