10 places to meet new people

​I have clients telling me how hard it is date and find new relationships. They ask me where they can meet a nice, “normal” guy or girl these days. This got me thinking about places that are safe and comfortable for people to be themselves while also meeting others.
 

​So here are 10 places to meet new people that I came up with!
 
1. Coffee Shop
Coffee shops were made for socializing! Grab a drink, a good book, and keep an eye out for someone that sparks your interest. If you have a favorite coffee shop, it's easy to make friends with the baristas. Tell them you're looking to meet someone new and they may already have someone in mind. And if they don't, they'll think of you the next time someone cute walks in. 
 
2. Dog Park
One of the best things about Austin is that it's an incredibly dog-friendly city. There are tons of dog parks, so no matter where you live, you’ll find one within a reasonable distance. Dogs are wonderful icebreakers because owners are always happy to talk about their dogs. Even if you don’t have one, you can still have fun dog watching and maybe you'll see a cute dog (and owner)! 
 
3. Gym
Going to the gym can be a great place to meet someone, especially if you go on a regular basis. Strike up a conversation between workouts by asking them for advice or if you play a sport, ask them if they'd like to partner up to play a few rounds. And just like with the coffee shop, if you make friends with the employees they may introduce you to other cute members.   
 
4. Meet-up Groups
There are hundreds of meet-up groups happening constantly that cater to a wide variety of interests. Find a few that appeal to you and you're sure to meet lots of new and interesting people. It's all about expanding your connections and joining some meet-up groups is one of the fastest ways to make this happen.
  
5. Library
If you're looking for the intellectual-type, your local library is the best spot to check out. It's easy to open up a conversation by asking for recommendations for a genre or author you like or commenting on a book someone is reading. Once you start chatting, you can invite them to take a coffee break together to discuss your favorite books. 
 
6. Church/Synagogue
In addition to weekly services, your local church or synagogue likely holds various social gatherings to encourage a strong sense of community among its members. Attending these gatherings is a great way to get to know the other members in a non-formal setting.  
 
7. Friends (who know you well)
Your friends are the best endorsement when it comes to meeting other people. You two are friends for a reason, so chances are you'd get along with someone they're friends with! Don't be shy about asking them to introduce you to someone they think you might connect with.
 
8. Your favorite hobby/passion 
Another great way to meet someone is to just do what you love. You'll meet others that share your passion and even if you're not interested in them in particular, they may be able to introduce you to someone. Try joining a club or an intramural sports team and you'll start meeting people right away. 
 
9. Hike and Bike Trail
When the weather is nice, you'll find lots of people taking advantage of all the wonderful hiking and biking trails in Austin. Once you've started chatting with someone you're interested in, you could make plans to hike or bike that trail together.
 
10. Volunteering
Pick something you're passionate about and you'll likely find an organization in your area that would love to have you as a volunteer. Not only will you be opening yourself up to meeting new, like-minded people, you'll be doing good as well. 
 
Have another idea where to meet people that I haven't mentioned? Let me know in the comments! 

Complete Minds
www.completeminds.com

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