Dear Sugar & Spice ... I've spent the last 22 years trying to make one woman happy. Unfortunately, we are no longer together so I am just getting my feet wet with online dating. Now at age 54, I am at a loss for words on what to put in the personal. And there's a twist, I am in wheelchair. Can you offer any thoughts on how to put together an online personal?
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A Little Sugar
Honesty is the key here. Crafting an online personal isn't like a resume where you really want to make the employer go WOW! You need to convey the real you and, if you come across too sensational or stuck on yourself, people are going to be turned off. So as you write it, try to highlight experiences that set you apart from everyone else. We're all tired about reading about singles with a good sense of humor. If you like to make others laugh, mention how your twisted tongue got you in trouble -- recall an embarrassing moment. For the wheelchair, mention your thirst for life and that nothing, not even a wheelchair, has kept you back. You need to help people see the wheelchair differently, and that it's not a limiting factor -- no different than long hair or no hair at all. So yes, you do need to include the reference to help open minds. That way, when you do meet, all you have to sell her on is your charming self.
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A Lot of Spice
Just like everyone else writing an online personal, you want to tell all the things about you that make you someone special. Being in a wheelchair is one of them, so make sure that the women who will read your profile know it. Just share all the perks that come with dating a man with his own set of wheels, like, she will always have a place to sit. If you set the tone as lighthearted and fun, then the women who are interested in getting to know you will follow your lead.