Today I ran across this article from trusted AARP about making new friends. If you are anything like me, trusting people is very difficult. I have chosen at this time in my life to keep the small amount of close friends that I have and do not often reach out to obtain new ones. I am not sure, however, if this is always the best option. Sometimes I feel a little silly trying to bond with someone now but according to this article, it is never too late!
Never Too Old to Find New Friends
15 ways to connect with others and form fulfilling relationships
by: Mary Mohler | from: AARP | April 1, 2011
When you were in school, you had no problem making friends. Ditto for those years when you were a parent of growing kids. But now that you’ve reached a new stage of life — and maybe have relocated or retired — making new acquaintances can be a little trickier.
Also see: Be a Better Friend
Not only do you have fewer opportunities to meet new people, but “there’s also a little more resistance to forming new relationships later in life, and your skills can get a bit rusty,” says Marla Paul, author of The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore. Besides, you may feel just plain awkward.
Still, it’s important to make the effort. Close relationships with others are vital to your health — physical, mental and emotional — your self-esteem and even your longevity, according to recent research. So if watching Grey’s Anatomy is the highlight of your week, or you find yourself enthusiastically chatting with telemarketers, you probably need to make some new connections. Here are 15 things that can help you. » Read more..
