Because you are NEVER too old to make new friends

 Remember when you were younger and how many friends you had?  From school, to kids in your neighborhood, to your parents friend’s kids that instantly became your new besties because mom said so, you were always booked and busy with play dates. It was much easier to build connections because all you cared about was just having someone to have fun with. Of course you had your minor disagreements but it wasn’t something that you couldn’t come back from. The good ‘ol days, right? While there are many of us who still remain close to some of those friends from our childhood today, there are also some whose friendships did not make it past the sandbox, jungle gym, and lunch tables. Granted, people move, change schools, or simply grow out of certain friendships, but one thing is for sure…you never forget the kid down the street who used to share their toys and snacks with you. 

Now we’re adults and just as it is difficult to find a genuine partner, good friends aren’t easy to come by either. We’ve all had our run in with the occasional “friend” who we trusted and out of nowhere turned their back on us. It happens. If you ask someone random on the street if they have a lot of friends, I’m most certain they’ll respond saying that they’re circle is small. As children we might have not fully understood what it meant to be loyal. The things we used to brush off might hit a soft spot for us now that we are adults. You have every right to be picky on who you bring into your circle. You have to protect your peace by all means. 

If you are at a stage in your life where you do want to form genuine connections with people, it is not too late. It is hard meeting new people, but if you place yourself in environments where the goal is to create connections, your chances are significantly higher. So, where do you start to find your “girl gang” or “bro squad” - whatever you choose to call it - I have done a bit of research on some ways you can make this come to fruition.

1. Join a friendship app/interest group - Just as there are apps for dating, friendship apps are a thing too. Apps like Bumble BFF or Meetup can be used to make new friends. Bumble BFF allows you to create a user profile - just as you would on a dating app - where you can provide whatever information about yourself that you would want your potential friends to know about you. You can upload pictures, customize your “about me” section, describe your interests, and so much more. You can also adjust your search distance to connect with people in your area. Meetup is a platform where you can meet new people who share similar interests. You could create or join a group with people who have the same hobbies as you such as cooking, hiking, writing, acting, and much more. You name it; more than likely they have it. If you don’t find a group tailored to your personal interests, you are more than welcome to create and customize your own group. There are other apps such as Clubhouse, Yubo, and SKOUT that are pretty popular as well.

2. Join classes and workshops - There are so many classes and workshops that fit your interests to join. Classes and/or workshops such as culinary, dancing, writing, photography, arts and crafts, and others can be found in your area by doing a simple Google search or browsing on social media. They might cost, but the end result is so worth it. You could potentially meet your new bestie simultaneously honing in on your craft and participating in something you love doing. It’s a win-win situation.

3. Fitness/holistic besties? - Joining a gym, yoga or meditation group, a sports club, or other health and wellness groups is also a great way to meet people. Many trainers who work at gyms offer group sessions for those who need an extra push when it comes to their weight and health journey. Websites such as Eventbrite are filled with spiritual and wellness communities who offer sessions for those who want a holistic approach to meet new people. If you are a sports fanatic and want to start hooping again like you did when you were younger, places such as recreation centers, parks, gym basketball courts, are places you can start attending to ball with like-minded individuals. 

Attending local community events, networking mixers and socials, and meeting new people through mutual friends are other ways to organically increase your friend group. In all honesty, you are going to have to take the initiative and put yourself out there to meet people. Many of us might be timid or apprehensive because of past experiences, but there are genuine people around us; we just have to be open to all possibilities.