Guest writer Imagen Gowan (writer of ’50: Diary of a Middle-Aged Woman’) talks about finding love in midlife, social trends, and challenges.

I am. I have been dating on and off for the last seven years and my experience is that finding my forever partner is something akin to mission impossible. But perhaps that’s because I’m too fussy. All I want is an intelligent, educated, wealthy man who cares about his health, loves good conversation, has manners, speaks beautifully, and has a head full of hair.

But one of the key factors that emerge in not dating is “age”

Many women I’ve spoken to say it’s a numbers game. It’s about kissing a lot of frogs before you find a prince – if you find one at all. But don’t be disheartened. These days there are lots of opportunities to find Mr. Right. We’re spoiled for choice!

As per research, 25% of non-daters above age 50 say that they feel “too old” for dating

In the past, people tended to only meet their partner at work, via friends, family, or through their hobby. And this is still a possibility, but there is now a broad range of dating sites online, from well-known giants such as Tinder, Match, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, Eharmony, and Bumble to more niche apps like , Lumen, and Silversingles (for those of us over fifty). And there is no longer any stigma attached, especially since the pandemic. Everyone does it – from people in their teens through to as old as you like.

Your own priorities or past experiences also determine whether you are looking for a partner at all. Heart-breaking end of relationships takes time to heal.

Older women are even more reluctant to join the dating bandwagon. As per statistics, about 40% of women beyond the age of 65 are unpartnered.