Asking your friends to set you up is a good  place to start.  But we recommend that you be cautious in becoming involved in a new relationship.  Most of us going through divorce feel varying degrees of hopelessness, hurt, betrayal, and worthlessness- in short, we are a wreck.  And, it takes time to heal.

            For most of us it will take 12 to 18 months to heal.  If you are the person who left the marriage, you have already started your healing clock.  If you were dumped, you are just beginning so proceed into a new relationship only to the degree that you feel emotionally free from your marriage.  If you wake up every morning with feelings of resentment, anger, and bitterness, you are not ready.  But if you have appropriate feelings of sadness, wish things were different but accept that they are not and are ready to move on- do so. 

            Most people find that a new relationship is necessary to completely recover from a divorce.  We asked over 200 respondents to tell us what was essential in recovering from a broken heart/relationship- time and a new person as the answer...in that order. 

            While finding new potential partners through friends is a good way to meet others, the Internet is the new way a lot of people are meeting each other (yes- even people like you who are reluctant to meet someone on the Internet).  We know numerous couples who have met on the Internet and are now married.  We also know individuals who have had bad experiences in meeting others on the Internet (click here for some horror stories, be careful).

            If you are ready to move the Internet is one option to consider- click here.  To repeat....begin slowly- do a lot of looking before you email anyone- but do begin.  The worst thing you can do is to feel sorry for yourself, withdraw from others, and live behind closed emotional doors.  Crack the door open- there is light on the other side.