• Friends supporting one other

    26 Ways to Meet New Friends After 50

    December 3, 2021 /

    Have you noticed your circle of friends is shrinking? Do you want to meet new like-minded people who share your interests, and you don’t know where to begin? Even in these Covid times, we need friendships more than ever to feel connected and anchored.

    I believe it can be as easy as A, B, C to make new friends even, yes, after 50. Here are 26 ideas on how you can meet new, interesting people and further enrich your life.

    Adult education

    Interested in Italian? Playing bridge? Memoir writing? Community colleges, universities, and recreation departments offer a variety of programs to lifelong learners. Free online courses are also available.

    Book group

    Books transport us to another time and place. Find a group or start your own to discuss books with new book-loving friends. Book groups, literary salons, author tours, and library events are also places to meet new people. Join an author’s Facebook group.

    Community citizenship

    Community engagement is the cornerstone of democracy and thriving neighborhoods. Attend town halls, city planning and council meetings, in person or virtually. Know your leaders, keep up on current events, and engage with your community.

    Dog park

    Dogs are amazing friend magnets. Volunteer at a dog shelter, foster, or adopt a dog to enjoy a wonderful companion and ease loneliness, especially during a pandemic. Daily walks and outdoor dog parks offer opportunities to meet other dog lovers.

    Everyday encounters

    Everyday encounters can be the beginning of new friendships. Smile, start conversation, be curious and friendly with the regulars at your coffee shop, on neighborhood walks, and at the local farmer’s market.

    Faith community

    Faith communities bring like-minded spiritual seekers together. Join a study group, be a greeter, or become active at your local spiritual center, church, synagogue, or mosque.

    Gardening

    Gardening offers many ways to meet people outdoors while enjoying the benefits of nature. Local community gardens, university extension programs, school farm-to-table programs, garden groups, or becoming a Master Gardener.

    Harness your hobbies

    Harness your hobby to engage with others who share your passions—such as bridge, chess, woodworking, writing, doll-making, or more esoteric interests. Local groups and online forums are available with others who share your interests. Read my post on why creativity is vital to our lives.

    Invite acquaintances

    Invite an acquaintance for an expanded conversation to get to know them better. Take the initiative and ask them for coffee, lunch or to walk and talk. You may find you have more in common and the friendship may bloom.

    Just say “yes!”

    When someone asks you to do something or try something new, it could be fun and expand your world, say yes and go. Shared experiences are excellent ways to forge new friendships.

    Kindness

    Kind acts are simple gestures from the heart to let others know we care. Baking cookies for a neighbor, homemade soup to someone ill, a surprise phone call, or a handwritten card, are appreciated and open hearts and make connections.

    Learn

    Learn something new or dive deep into a subject that interests you. Move beyond solo reading to groups—classes, online or in-person, studying and sharing ideas.

    Music

    If you like to sing or play an instrument, there are opportunities at all talent levels. Join a chorus, choir, local orchestra or band, or the community theater group. Enthusiasm often is more important to talent, so try it!

    Neighborhood

    Neighborhoods provide opportunities for friends within walking distance. Plan Friday curbside wine downs, block potluck parties, help at community gardens, or get involved organizing safety or emergency response teams.

    Outdoors

    Outdoors for exercise, adventure and reap extra health benefits. Parks, trails, neighborhood streets, offer the soothing energy of nature. Enjoy robust hikes with energetic friends, or conversation while on a casual stroll in a botanical garden.

    Paint party

    Sign up for a paint (or crafts) class, in person or online. Create your own with a bit of imagination and initiative. Find a suitable venue, someone with a talent to share, and invite a few friends you think would enjoy the afternoon or evening.

    Quest

    Travel solo, near or far on a journey to learn, discover, or pursue something new. Along the way, you will encounter others to share the experiences. There are many available resources for “solo-questers”.

    Reconnect

    Reconnect with old friends, past co-workers you liked, or former neighbors. A call or invitation to get together may rekindle good feelings of years ago.

    Stitch it up

    Sewing, quilting, needlepoint, knitting or other handcrafts all offer gathering places to demonstrate skills, knowledge and conversations with kindred souls.

    Try something new

    Time to uncover an idea, place, or experience you never done? Now’s the time. Make a list and pick one now.

    Utilize current connections

    Utilize current connections to meet new people. Our friends have friends, and you may share something beyond your mutual friend. Initiate a call or get together.

    Volunteer

    Giving of our time and talent to others is a wonderful way to feel good, do good and meet new people. There is a great need to help others. Check out volunteer opportunities in your community.

    Women’s groups

    The immediate connection and conversation in women gathering to hear a speaker, share ideas or support a cause is infectious and engaging.

    eXplore

    Think like a tourist in your hometown. Visit museums, parks, tourist sights, even a docent walking tour or food tour. You will be amazed at the history, and will meet both locals and visitors, and appreciate your hometown in fresh ways.

    Yoga class

    Improve flexibility and balance in both mind and spirit through yoga classes. A yoga studio, adult classes, or the local Y all offer a variety of programs. Check out my post on getting our bodies moving.

    Zest

    Zest–an attitude to live your best life with excitement and a “seize the day” attitude. It infuses our actions with positive energy and draws people to us.

    There you go! Twenty-six ways to expand your circle of friends. Keep in mind, you can start engaging in these activities now – even during the virtual, socially distanced life we are currently living.

    So remember…

  • Start now
  • Take the initiative and reach out
  • Feel the fear and do it anyway
  • Be curious
  • Volunteer
  • Be open to all ages and stages in life
  • Sign up for our newsletter.
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  • badge of courage

    Your Badge of Courage to Say “Yes”

    December 17, 2020 /

    A few years ago, I wrote a blog about saying “no”. Now I’m almost as good as a 2-year old girl about saying “no,” but hopefully not as defiant! The act of saying no is so freeing and I feel great afterwards. At the same time, it helped me learn when and why to say “yes” more thoughtfully and with positive intention. I’ve really noticed a difference in my life and my state of mind. Today, I’d like to talk about the value in saying “yes”.

    1. Say “yes” to those people who energize, inspire, support and like you.

    I’ve decided I don’t  want to  spend my precious time in a struggle with relationships where I don’t feel better for the time spent.  Most of us have a few people in our life who exhaust us, treat us poorly, or make us uncomfortable, “less than”, or worse. It doesn’t matter if they are clients, service staff, salespeople, friends, or even family. If you are not better for the time spent with someone — take your time, money and love elsewhere. Life is just too short! If you must interact with them, then minimize the time you spend with them and consciously maintain healthy boundaries. Getting enough rest, positive self talk, brief stays or encounters, and the counsel of a good friend all help.

    2. Say “yes” when someone asks if they can help you.

    Let’s say you’re having friends over for dinner and they ask, “what can I bring?” Thank them for their kind offer and suggest something. If you’re the type of person who carefully plans your menu with very specific food in mind, then its better suggest they bring a bottle of wine or other beverage. And above all, graciously accept the offer.

    3. Say “yes” to putting yourself first. Take very good care of yourself.

    Rest, drinking enough water, daily exercise and time for relaxation and fun are essentials to your well being… and to maintain good health. Self-Care is essential, particularly during the holidays, times of travel, stress, or winter. Treat yourself to a good book, movie or a long conversation with close, cherished friends.

    4. Say “yes” to a beautiful space.

    Whether this space is your bedroom, office, car or living room, notice how you feel when you’re in this room. Is it clean, orderly, and contain lovely, soul-nurturing things? Or is it a dumping ground for all the stuff in that doesn’t have a home?  Look around at the clutter, papers, clothes strewn about, and any items in the room that no longer support who you are today. Is the lighting appropriate for the room, warm, soothing light for a bedroom or sufficient work light for an office.  (Studies have proven that electronic light and devices actually have a negative effect on your sleep, so get that smartphone out of there.) When a space doesn’t enhance your well-being, it is agitating, creates emotional stress and doesn’t allow you to focus on the purpose of the room. A beautiful space awaits you under all the stuff, so find it.

    It takes courage to say yes, so wear your badge proudly! You’ve earned it. Hope these help… would enjoy hearing your comments below.

    This post was originally published in December 2014 and has since been updated.

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