You're never too old for a first date. From young 'uns meeting in city bars, to the older folks swooning each other at bingo halls, dating is a part of life. While great things come along with dating (wink, wink, nod, nod), not everything is smooth sailing. Oftentimes, dates can be uncomfortable, particularly when they are first dates.

Perhaps the biggest date deal-breaker of all - other than a kidnapping attempt or a murder confession - is the dreaded uncomfortable silence, the cessation of conversation as crickets start chirping in the background. Because of the fear of this, people on first dates often exhibit a sense of unrest, and a desperation to keep the conversation going even if they have to start singing show tunes.

However, this fear is often exaggerated and, with a few tricks, a first date can be as comfortable as speaking to someone you've known for years, or at least a few months.

Pick a Good Place
Meeting at a caf or a restaurant may be fine, but a lot of times this can add to the pressure of having the entire evening fall on the shoulders of the dating duo. Because these places have little on which the couple to focus, or use as a conversation piece, they can be more uncomfortable than places where conversation may be added by outside forces. Going to a movie or a play, on the contrary, restricts the conversation too much, with people shushing you as you turn to your date and ask, "So where are you from?" Instead, try doing something that allows for both conversation and external activity such as going golfing, going to see a live band, going bowling, or going to a museum.

Ask Questions
People on first dates have an advantage: they essentially know very little about each other. This gives them the ability to keep the conversation going and develop commonalities by asking questions. From inquiring about where a person is from, to asking about movies and music, there is a plethora of questions for the asking. While certain questions should be avoided - asking about religion, asking about politics, asking for their credit card number - most questions are both fair game and the key to getting a second date.

Be Yourself
Sure, it's the oldest clich in the Book of Love, but it's also one of the truest. Uncomfortable first dates are often marked with the two respective parties trying too hard to impress the other. Boasting about being an accomplished hand model or how a college dissertation on seahorses received the highest marks might seem like it will make an impression, but it might be of the wrong kind. Instead of trying to captivate your date with a resume of your life's greatest accomplishments, simply be relaxed and be yourself.

Dating is a hard thing to do. It's time consuming, frustrating, and enough to make some people long for the days of arranged marriages. However, it's part of life, a part we deal with one day, or one date, at a time.

Keeping a few things in mind can be the difference between an uncomfortable date, and a date full of contentment. No matter how it goes, returning home to a Natural Latex mattress can either soothe your dating woes, or reward you for a date well done. With breathable material that conforms to your body, keeping you engulfed in comfort and calming temperatures, a Natural Latex mattress can give the great night's rest you need to tackle the dating world. And, if the date goes extremely well, a Natural Latex mattress can always be used for something other than sleeping.