IRL Experiments Begin Now

As I wrote recently, I’m taking the summer off from dating apps. But I am still thinking about how I can meet people and go on dates without the crutch of technology. Besides getting better with eye contact and smiling, I want to start being more intentional with those spur-of-the-moment connections. And for me, being intentional means having a plan.

The first plan is having a card to give out. A physical, wallet-sized calling card to hand out at my discretion. So I developed the below image - similar to a business card but hopefully more fun - that I can throw down whenever I think someone is cute. Here’s a picture:

It’s not revolutionary. And knowing myself, I will struggle to remember to give it out when I find myself flirting at the coffee shop or smiling at someone on the subway.

But it’s a step in the right direction. Reviving the in-person connection is important to me. Regardless of what happens with me and dating apps in the long run, I take pride in being someone who can connect with others. I like talking to strangers and discovering new corners of the world through them. I hope, at the very least, that this card is the start of something.