Pimping my Business

I could feel it happening. The lure of becoming a full-time couch potato was very seductive. Moving past a break-up is never easy, but this one felt like it could take a rigid grip on me and not let go.

It was time. I needed to get out of the house for more than work and the occasional grocery store run. I needed to restore a space for fun back in my life.

I had managed to stay in touch with people by phone, email, and facebook but I’m a social person by nature. I missed the hugs, the eye-contact , the connectedness that comes from face-to-face communication.

So I contacted Jessica, a friend who had been patiently waiting for me to come out of my cave. She had a talent for teasing out the few places in the Domain that offered great happy hour eats and wine at a price that was still palatable.

We squeezed into a couple of seats at the bar at Gloria’s. I didn’t even know the new restaurant was there. (Yes, I do have to get out more.) Before the evening was over, it was clear that I was one of the few Austinites who didn’t know about Gloria’s . The lovely ambiance, upscale Tex-Mex meals and a delightful outdoor patio drew quite the crowd.

Jessica and I exchanged news about the highlights and lowlights in our lives. We were facebook friends, so we were able to keep up with each other on a mostly superficial level that way. Sitting there together we allowed ourselves to go beyond the surface and pour out our feelings. We laughed.. a lot.. and at times I held back a few tears. The visit was long overdue.

We were talking about Internet dating when the man on the bar stool next to me started injecting himself into our conversation. The interruption was only mildly annoying because we had already been talking for quite a while and were starting to wind down.

I explained to him that we were discussing online dating. He immediately gives his negative opinions concerning the subject. (I tried to ignore the thought, “No you probably prefer to pick up women at bars.”.. but it kept creeping back into my mind.) After he went on and on about the perils of Internet dating, he confessed that he’d never actually done it.

I quietly retrieved one of my business cards out of my purse. ( As most of you know, I’m an Internet Dating Coach, as a sideline to my work at the college.) When I slipped him my card, it was clear that he thought I was interested in him and slyly passing my card with the implied invitation to call me.

He kept talking and glanced briefly down at the card. Then he did a double take.

"You are an Internet Dating Coach! What the hell is an Internet Dating Coach? I thought I had impressed you with my suave demeanor and here you are just pimping your business." Jessica and I couldn’t stifle the giggles.

I asked him how his current approach to dating was working. He sighed. “I’ll give you a call.” I laughed and told him my business was booming and that I wasn’t accepting new clients. ...but that I wished him well.

Jessica and I moved to a new place had a cup of coffee and finished our conversation.

Ava's website: www.edatinginsight.com