The Best Places to Meet Singles

"Be genuinely interested in everyone you meet, and everyone you meet will be genuinely interested in you." That line from Rasheed Ogunlaru is a decent place to start if you're single and running out of ideas for where to find other single people your age.

Maybe you've tried a few spots and come up empty. The good news is that single people are scattered across far more places than most of us think. A little creativity turns ordinary errands into chances to talk to someone new. Sitting at home feeling sorry for yourself does nothing for your mood, while getting out and meeting people genuinely lifts it. So here are some of the places worth trying.

Bookstores. If you read, your local shop (independent or chain) is quietly full of people who read too. That's a shared interest built in before you've said a word. Grab a coffee, pull a few books or magazines off the shelf, and settle into a table or a reading bench. You might walk out with a new book and the number of someone worth knowing, or at the very least a friend.

Coffeehouses. Coffee drinkers already have a reason to loiter. Head to Starbucks or whatever local place you like, order something, and stick around. Some Indie music playing in the background, a cup of coffee in hand, and other regulars nearby make it an easy spot to fall into conversation.

Parties and lounges. A party full of people in your age range is hard to beat. Big gatherings mean drinking, talking, dancing, and the whole thing tends to lift a flat mood and leave you feeling good, almost like a natural high. The trick is to stay open. Don't get snobby about people you wouldn't normally talk to; the point is to meet someone new and enjoy yourself. If you like things loud and fast, round up some friends and hit a busy club. If you'd rather keep it mellow, an adult lounge lets you relax with people who want the same slower pace.

Arcades and sports bars. Both draw a crowd with an obvious thing in common. Arcades are packed with gamers, so if you love playing games, that's your room. Sports bars work the same way for anyone who watches or plays sports. You can eat, drink, and argue about last night's game with the person next to you.

Church. Yes, church. It's a room full of people who share your values, and plenty of congregations run events aimed specifically at singles: picnics, prayer groups, fellowship nights. When was the last time you went? If you can't recall, showing up more often gets you both the service and the company. Keep going to the singles events, stay open-minded, and don't dismiss the idea that a future spouse could be sitting a few pews over.

Friends and family. Before anything else, ask the people who already know you. They may know other singles who are ready to date, and because they vouch for both sides, a setup tends to feel safer and keep everyone a little more accountable. They can also give you an honest heads-up about someone. Even so, be careful with anyone new, whether your people know them or not.

Online. More people sign up for sites like Match.com and eHarmony.com every year, often because they're shy, introverted, or too busy for the grind of face-to-face dating. Online dating lets you meet other singles without the pressure of an in-person first encounter, and the sheer number of people on these sites works in your favor. They offer video chats, chat rooms, notes, personal ads, and photos. The aim is still to meet in person eventually and then decide whether it's going anywhere. There's risk in online dating, just as there's risk in dating anyone, so go in cautious and don't hand over personal details too fast. If you're browsing personal ads online or in the paper, stay away from sketchy sites like Craig's List and look instead at religious, interest-based, or business-related ones.

References: Albo, B. (2015). Places to meet singles in and around your community. About Relationships. Goodreads. (2015). Quotes on meeting people. Huff Post. (2011). The top 5 places to meet single people over 50.