Blind dates can be quite a bit of fun if you go into it with the right attitudee. That means, don’t expect to meet “the one” the first time your friend sets you up with her co-worker, or your buddy from basketball asks if you want to go out with his cousin. Instead, treat the experience as an opportunity to meet someone new without putting too much pressure on yourself. Keep an open mind and remember that a first meeting is only the beginning of getting to know another person.

Going out with someone who you’ve been paired up with because your friends know you both like Thai food, going to basketball games, or taking the dogs to the dog park on the same side of town, can be a great way to if nothing else, make a new connection. Having shared interests gives you something to talk about and can help make the first meeting more comfortable. Even if there is no romantic spark, you might discover that you enjoy spending time together and have found someone worth knowing.

You might be hesitant because if you don’t like the person they’ve set you up with, you don’t want to hurt their feelings by saying they were a horrible matchmaker. This can be avoided again with the right attitude. Remember that your friends are trying to help, and they cannot guarantee that two people will have chemistry. Be honest about your expectations before agreeing to the date, and make it clear that you are willing to give it a try without promising that anything will come of it.

Tell them upfront, “Sure, I’ll go, just don’t be mad at me if it doesn’t work out, or there’s no chemistry.” Be open to the possibility that you might have a genuinely good time, but don’t hesitate to let whoever’s setting you up know that you’re doing it for fun, and to get out of the house, and that you are going into it with the idea that whatever happens, happens. Try to enjoy the conversation and see where it leads. You never know when a casual introduction might turn into a connection.