This was one of the most interesting interviews I have had this year. Anisa Hassan is a matchmaker who has taken her 16 years of experience online and created Joompa, a matchmaking service that is aimed at Muslims.

Relationships and dating are not subjects that are often talked about in Asian societies and misconceptions are abound. In the published story she talks about how men don’t even know how to start a conversation, and gave some tips.

In the interview, she explains how people has the misconception of the phrase ‘be yourself’. A term often used in the subject of relationships but seldom understood. Anisa said that to be yourself is to understand the breath and with of your own self. To know yourself as a whole.

For example, a hobbyist could be someone who could paint miniatures, collects Lego sets, and build plastic models kits. Being yourself is realising that you are more than that one thing and sharing the other sides of yourself as well.

Perhaps you are good at looking at the funny side of things, perhaps you have a positive outlook, and perhaps you like spicy foods. Start with something relatable, get to know each other first.

I bet a lot of good could come from teenagers who are struggling to understand and find relationships to have someone like Anisa to talk to. I certainly wished I did.

To me, the most memorable quote in the whole interview was: “Remember, all you need is to find that one person. You don’t need to impress them all”.