Getting back into dating after a divorce or being on your own for a very long time can be really scary – at any age. When we’re afraid of the unknown, it’s easy to make excuses as to why we can’t do that one thing that we’re afraid of. “Online dating is for younger people!” “It will never work for me!” “I won’t meet anyone!” – if you make these excuses enough, eventually they stop feeling like excuses and start feeling, well, “real.” How many times have you heard yourself say something like, “I’m not trying to make excuses, that’s just the way it is!” Excuses in life – and dating – keep us playing small, when really we want to play big.

As a 50+ single, you’re actually in an awesome position: you’re established, you know who you are and what you want thanks to lessons you’ve learned from previous relationships. If you already enjoy your life, getting out there and meeting new people is only going to enrich it further. Why not make the most of this amazing time in your life?!

Here’s a few common myths about online dating over 50 and why they’re total BS.

1. “I’m too old. I won’t meet anyone my age online!”

WRONG.

We’re living in an era where you can literally find almost anything you’re looking for online – including dating sites like OurTime.com which are designed specifically for mature singles like yourself. OurTime.com has one of the largest user bases of singles over the age of 50 who are looking for all types of relationships, including marriage, travel companionship or even pen pals.

One of the great things about OurTime.com is its recognition that what people want in their 50s, 60s and beyond is often very different from what they wanted in their 30s and 40s, let alone their 20s. This is an online dating community that focuses on the specific interests and desires of people like you, so you can throw the “I’m too old excuse!” out the window. Whether you’re looking for marriage, friendship or something in between – with thousands of 50+ singles joining everyday, you can no longer say, “I’ll never meet someone!” Furthermore, if you decide to check out a more general online dating website like Match.com, keep in mind that you can specify exactly what age range you’re interested in being matched with. And yes, with one of the largest users bases of singles anywhere, finding other mature daters shouldn’t be difficult!

2. “Online dating is for desperate people!”

WRONG.

One in five relationships now start online. The stigma that used to be associated with online dating is gone. It’s no longer the exception, it’s the norm. Instead, online dating provides you with access to thousands of singles that are matched with you based on what you’re looking for. Dating is a numbers game. With thousands of singles of all ages signing up everyday, online dating isn’t for the desperate; it’s for people who want to broaden their social circle and meet as many interesting people as possible.

3. “It’s too complicated!”

Not a computer whiz? No problem! OurTime takes this into account by offering a user interface that’s incredibly easy to navigate – even for people who are technology challenged! The sign-up process is extremely simple and searching for users is very straightforward. You can discover other singles and send messages, all within the site’s clean and simple interface.

The fact that OurTime doesn’t offer many “bells and whistles” is actually what makes it great for singles aged 50+. Instead of becoming distracted and frustrated by a website’s latest tech-savvy features, you can just get right to what matters: searching for users and making connections. If you need a bit of extra encouragement or insight, OurTime.com has a great blog with lots of tips and advice to help you get the most out of your online dating experience.

4. “I won’t meet anyone who shares my interests!”

WRONG.

Online dating sites are designed to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Take OurTime.com for example. The site’s basic search function allows you to search by gender, age and location and to specify whether your search results should only include profiles with photos, video or other features. The advanced search function includes additional options such as marital status, relationship expectations, zodiac, and religion.

If you want to get really specific, with Match.com’s advanced search functionality, you can actually build your own match, based on interests, background and lifestyle. Advanced search filters contain detailed sorting of lifestyle features, such as exercise frequency and occupation, but also physical appearance, such as hair color and eye color. Similar to using Google, you can also search under and specific keyword in profile, such as “squash player” or “Mountain biking” by using the MatchWords™ feature.

 5. “Online dating won’t work for me.”

I can’t predict whether you’ll meet the love of your life through online dating; however, I can say this: like most things in life, you get what you put into it. So, say goodbye to old pre-prescribed notions. If you get into online dating with a positive, open-minded attitude you’re much more likely to enjoy the experience.