After 76 first dates, I stopped trying to optimize for love and learned to enjoy the experience of meeting someone new.

First dates can be full of potential, but certain actions can quickly put a damper on the experience. Small habits or comments might change how the other person sees you and affect the connection.

First dates are as nerve-wracking as they are exciting. You want to make a good impression, and picking out the perfect first-date outfit that you feel and look your best in is the first step. But if ...