THE ART OF BEING AVAILABLE

Many mature people who are alone reject the idea that they should take any initiative to make themselves available for romantic involvement. Some of this reluctance is based on the way things were in the past. Some fear that a relationship with another might destroy a valued memory. Often it is nothing more than a lack of confidence. 

Another excuse you hear is, I might get involved in something I can t handle. These people seem to fear that any relationship that starts out innocently will automatically escalate to a sexual relationship. These people do not consider that the other person may fear such an escalation as much as they do. Once friendly signals have been exchanged, a timely follow-up is desirable if a new relationship is to blossom. The initial psychological barrier must be overcome to allow a relationship to develop. What happens after a relationship develops should not be anticipated in advance. Retirees should be able to develop rewarding second-level relationships without needless anxiety about what might happen later. 

To throw away the beauty of close companionship because you fear physical activities is foolish at any stage of life. For mature people, it is ridiculous. 

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