COLUMN: Finding love on the Internet
When I joined OKCupid, I didn't have high hopes.
I had been single for a few months and really missed the companionship of a boyfriend. I wanted someone I could come home to and cuddle with while we watched Netflix.
My last relationship hadn't been good. He was emotionally abusive and didn't appreciate all of the sacrifices I had made for him, including driving an hour almost every weekend to spend time with him.
I had gotten caught in the loop of thinking every man was like that, too. I didn't trust anyone because I knew I was going to put in more effort than they ever did.
OKCupid was a site I trusted. My oldest brother had met his fiancee on there, and heck, if they could do it, so could I.
I went on a couple dates with a couple of really nice guys, but I didn't click with them. Something kept telling me there was someone else out there that could be better, that would treat me right and that I could just lounge with and be OK.
OKCupid gives percentages of how compatible you are with someone else on their site based on questions you answered and the answers you deem acceptable for a partner. They do this for how incompatible you are as well.
One of my favorite pass times was looking at the guys that had high percentage matches with me, the 99 percent matches with low incompatibility scores.
Most of the guys were in California or Colorado. I tried looking for men that were closer to me, too.
One of my favorites was a 98 percent match that lives in Chicago, a web developer for The Chicago Tribune. I'm actually still friends with him on Facebook even though we've only G-Chatted a couple times and text sporadically.
Then, Aaron popped up on my feed.
I have never had such an "aha" moment before. He was a 99 percent match, maybe four percent incompatible. He had a beard that just wouldn't quit.
And he lived four hours, 239 miles, away.
Two days of messaging back and forth on the site and countless texts sent later, we planned to meet.
I drove to Indiana to visit this man. It was one of the most foolish things I have ever done. I do not condone meeting someone in a location you don't know, especially somewhere so far away. But it was so worth it.
I've fallen in love.
Aaron is everything I could have imagined. He's caring and passionate about his work. He's intelligent and witty. He makes me want to be a better person.
I had my doubts when I started my OKCupid account. Had I not, I wouldn't have ever met this man that I can see myself moving to Chicago with and starting a life.
I wouldn't have met an incredible human being that makes me laugh and smile and feel like myself more than anyone else ever has.
I'm in love, and it's all thanks to the Internet.
