5 Reasons Dating Over 50 Is Infinitely BETTER Than In Your 20s

For many single women over 50, the idea of dating creates angst, frustration, and confusion. But as a dating coach for women, I'm here to tell you, "Please don't fret!"

The truth is — those 20-something gals have nothing on you when it comes to dating prowess. Surprised to hear me say that? Don't be!

Let go of those false notions that you're behind the game in any way. Ladies, it's time to enjoy the dating process and realize that your love destiny is as bright and beautiful as you are. And knowing that makes all the difference because, as you can imagine, your outlook on men and dating is a huge factor in your experience and results.

Here are 5 pretty fantastic reasons why dating over 50 is actually light years better than in your 20s:

1. At 50, you know who you are.

Today, you approach dating with a wealth of life knowledge. You no longer wonder who you are as you might have in your 20s. Stop and take note of this and give yourself a chance to feel empowered by it.

According to WebMD, women over 50 feel more self-assured, know what they like (and don't like), and trust themselves more. That's the benefit of life experience — greater confidence. No, this doesn't mean you have it all figured out, but you've been there and done that so you can now be yourself and enjoy.

Did you feel that way at 22? I doubt it. Back then you were still "finding yourself", endlessly comparing yourself to others and worrying about what people thought. Confidence was hard to come by. You had to try things to discover your preferences, which meant you probably learned some hard lessons.

The benefits of this experience at 50 are remarkable. Now, apply that wonderful life knowledge and confidence to dating! You know what you like about men and relationships, and what you don't. Let that be your guide as you start meeting men and dating.

2. You have no desire to start a family.

So much freedom comes with no longer hearing the tick-tock of your biological clock. You're past having kids, and if you do have children, they're older and need less of your time.

In your 20s you were looking for a man you could start a family with. Your criteria for a mate was much different, seeking a guy who could be a good provider and father. Later in your 20s, the clock ticked louder, which put pressure on you to make choices in partners that maybe weren't the best.

Now you are either free from most child-rearing duties, or completely finished. Congratulations! Fighting with a potential partner about parenting approaches is not an issue any longer. And you don't need a pick a man based on his potential as a father. In truth, many women in their 50s no longer need a man to act as a provider either because they are financially independent.

This means, now you can focus on having fun! You have the freedom to choose a man because he knows how to enjoy life and is ready to share that with you. Sounds good, right?

3. You have relationship experience.

Reaching your 50s, you've been married or you've been in relationships, so you've acquired the communication skills to handle issues that crop up (and you're also mature enough to know issues DO crop up as part of healthy, normal relationships). Now you're no longer afraid to speak up because you've seen that things can and do work out. Calm conversations, logical thinking, and giving each other a chance to express concerns leads to working through problems successfully.

Remember your first fight with a boyfriend in your 20s? That was an insane amount of drama! You made mistakes, said the wrong thing, stormed out of the room, and worse. You had little knowledge of how to discuss a situation calmly, make your point fairly, or compromise.

When dating over 50, you know what type of behavior is unacceptable, how to resolve problems, and when it's smart to compromise to get back to the pleasure of his company. That experience makes all the difference. Apply that wisdom to dating and finding love this time around. There's no guarantee of perpetual bliss, but love is fabulous after 50.

4. You don't need him to "put a ring on it."

Many women over 50 married at least once, so you've likely already walked down the aisle and had the big wedding. Now, getting married isn't such a pressing need. Many divorced people over 50 don't want to marry again, even though they do want a long-term, committed relationship. You are free to choose.

Being family-minded in your 20s, marriage was vitally important. Your friends got engaged left and right and you started to feel out of the loop if you weren't going in the same direction.

At 50, the pressure is off. You can "live together apart," live together, or get married. This opens a world of options to connect with men. Of course, you can still choose to marry, but that's entirely up to you. I'm not at all trying to dissuade you. But when you don't marry, you avoid legal battles in the event things don't work out and retain a measure of freedom in your relationship if you want that.

5. Men over 50 are more tender.

Not only have you improved with age, but so have the men. Dr. Joel Block, sex therapist and author of Sex Over 50, claims men over 50 are "more tender." Apparently, as men age they get more comfortable with intimacy and can become nurturing. As people age they grow wiser and fine-tune their relationship skills.

Back in your 20s, do you remember men being nurturing, tender, or wise about women and their needs? Well, maybe a few were, but for the most part, both genders are just muddling their way through the confusing maze of dating and relationships.

So, you see, ladies—the chances of finding a man who understands you are better than ever over 50.

You can meet a man who is more caring and wants to make love work ... without stressing about finding a provider, rushing to the altar, or getting pregnant. You know yourself and what works for you. This is ideal for dating and finding love after 50.

But you must make yourself available so the right guy can find you! 

Trouble is, men can't find you unless you put yourself out there. It's time to socialize, get online, and have friends and family fix you up. Learn about how dating works today and then move forward with confidence, because honey, you're still a great catch and there's a man out there who will be so lucky to find you.

Dating Coach Ronnie Ann Ryan is the author of Is He the One? Find Mr. Right by Spotting Mr. Wrong which radically simplifies understanding men. Get more dating wisdom in her free book: 7 Dire Dating Mistakes that Keep You Single.