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By Terrey L. Hatcher

Are you tired of scoping out dates in the same old bars with the same old pickup lines? Whether you’re dishing out or receiving those lines, they can get boring fast. You can start to feel stagnant—or maybe even a bit desperate—if you always seem to meet the same type of person and the outcome continues to be less than thrilling.

So here’s a novel idea—get out and do something different! If you want your love life to take a different shape, then you have to break out of the mold you’ve sunk into.

Think about what’s missing with the people you’ve been meeting lately. Where do people who have that desirable X factor tend to hang out? What adventures do they get into?

Explore New Venues
If you want someone who shares your interests, first focus in on one or two. Maybe you can take a class to learn a new skill or enhance what you’ve already got. Do something that will take it to the next level.

So if you want to meet an outdoorsy type, you might take a rock climbing class. Or rent a stand-up paddleboard and take a lesson on a crowded day on the water. Or go snow skiing.

If it’s art and culture you want, go to an artist’s opening show or do the local gallery hop on a Friday evening. Go hear a live band and find a seat near some singles who seem friendly and fun.

Or go to a discussion at a nearby university about Civil War history, religion, global warming, anthropology, Shakespeare, satellite mapping…whatever it is that makes you sizzle and makes you special.

Or go to a poolroom or a batting cage and get some skills. Lots of people love to give pointers if you make them feel like an expert.

Do Your Research
When you do that something new, it wouldn’t hurt to take some time in advance to do a bit of research. Find some interesting tidbit related to the topic of the class, lecture, or outing, and you can share it when you get in a conversation with someone you find intriguing. Be sure to ask lots of questions of your newbie acquaintances as well. When you get people talking, you can break down barriers and learn so much more about them.

Finally, follow up and ask some of your new buddies to try this again sometime soon. Even if you don’t find any of them attractive and feel that they couldn’t ever be date material, they likely have friends…and their pals just might turn into your pals if you’re open and agreeable.

Even if you don’t end up with a date, you’ll feel better about yourself. You’ll give off a more confident vibe after you’ve tackled something new. Your experiences will freshen up your dating dialogue because you’ll have interesting stories to share when you do meet a potential heartthrob.

The key is to keep doing you…but different!