Christmas is over and the new year is upon us. Most people take at least a little bit of time to look back upon the year behind them and then forward to the year ahead. Chances are that if you're still doing some online dating, you might be a little frustrated that your relationships from the past year didn't go better. But there's a whole new year ahead of you to enjoy online dating experiences.

Here are five great things about online dating that will help start your new year off on the right foot:

1. Online options are expanding. Online dating continues to get more mainstream so this year will se the launch of new sites. You'll also see more blending between social networking, blogging and online dating. Your options are opening up.

2. Meeting new people increases your chances of finding a match. It's not just the people that you meet on dates who might be your future partner. You might instead go on a fun date with someone who ends up just a friend but who introduces you to the future spouse you've been hoping you'd meet.

3. It's fun. Yes you had some really awful dates this past year. But didn't you have some good times as well? Think back to the great movies that you saw, the dinners that you enjoyed, the new things that you learned from connecting with new people. These are the reasons that we date and the reasons that dating is fun.

4. You've got stories to tell. Even the dates that weren't so fun added to your collection of experiences. When you were sitting around with friends and family this Christmas season, didn't you have some interesting tales to tell? Dating provides fodder for conversation if nothing else.

5. A fresh start. The new year may be purely symbolic but take it as a chance to start over anew. You can revamp your profile, update your pictures, join some new dating sites and get ready to present the new you to some new people.

As we enter the new year, rid yourself of the things that you didn't like about online dating and move forward with the parts of it that you enjoy.

Question of the Day: What do you hope that online dating can do for you in 2008?