6 Great Ways For Making New Friends
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First, let's get something straight here. Making new friends is not something that 'just happens'. Even kids have to make an effort, and you know all the pain they go through when somebody says "You're not my friend any more!" We may think it gets harder as we get older, but it doesn't.
It was always hard. We just had more courage and determination when we were young. But making friends later in life is just as important. We may have moved to a new city or lost a spouse, and we still need as much human contact as we always did.
So with that said, here are 6 great ways to make friends.
- Take up a new sport that involves teams. This can include individual sports like golf if you join a club where team competitions are held regularly. Many golf clubs have 'seniors' groups that organize regular daytime team events. Whatever sport you choose, joining a club and taking part in team events is important. Solitary running is not going to help you get to know anyone!
- Become more involved in your church or faith group. Instead of just going along to church every Sunday, think about all of the activities that the church does and pick one where you have skills and would enjoy getting involved. This could mean helping to organizing a picnic, fixing the electrics, fund raising, cleaning, mowing the lawn - most churches have rotas for all of these things and you will find you get to know people this way.
- Go to a class - but choose carefully. You do not want a class where you just sit and listen to the professor. Practical classes like art, pottery or car maintenance are good, and anything where you will have to complete a project as a team is great. Call the college and ask questions about the teaching style before you sign up.
- Volunteer. Look on notice boards and in your local newspaper for active local charities and find one that would suit you. If it is something like working in a not-for-profit shop or organization, it will replicate the work environment where you probably made many friends in the past.
- Take the initiative. Whatever new activity you have chosen, invite someone for coffee or a drink afterward. It doesn't matter if they say no. They may be busy. Say, "Maybe next time"? and if they still say no, try someone else.
- Keep a relaxed attitude. This means being aware of the people around you all of the time, whatever situation you are in, and listen to what they have to say. This will make you more able to accept advances of friendship from others and stay open to any opportunity for making new friends.
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