Friends Sucess Stories

[MsRiss7383]

Has anyone been sucessful finding friends outside of the following:
-old school friends
-work friends
-church friends

If so, please share. I am almost friendless and I need help!

[winneythepooh7]

Yes. Social groups based on mutual interests, as well as friends of my husband and other friends..

[MsRiss7383]

Do you mean meet-up groups or some other type of social group?

[winneythepooh7]

Both.

[MsRiss7383]

I wouldn't know of any such social groups.

[LaFille]

personally i have not, but a close friend of mine met a lot of really cool people working on a political campaign and they have stayed close even though it's long over.

i think any sort of activity where you are reinforcing a common bond can result in really good friendships.

[koolkat1980]

Hi Riss again!

I feel your pain! I have a lot of 'superficial' kind of mutual acquaintances! You know...the people on my "MySpace" which I don't see at all.

These days I'm finding it difficult to find new friends who have similar interests and values!!!

When I was younger....drinking, bar and pub hopping was good and the way to go! It was fun and an easy way to meet people - but relationships didn't really eventuate into much. These days, since I am getting older and my values are becomming more defined...I feel I am drifting away from some friends.

In addition, I notice that the 'then' good friends I am still in contact with are still at it - the binge drinking every Friday, Saturday & Sunday! My problem is that I'm abit over it. It's doesn't really seem to have the same appeal anymore. I really want to save up for an apartment or home and crave 'quality' friendships.

I have about 1 really good friend I've kept in contact with from HS! I am lucky I come from a big family - which means I have siblings and I can hang with their friends when I need to.

I think social groups with common interests is the way to go as others have mentioned.

It's difficult - but i think 1 has got to go with their intuition about people. Personally, I feel more comfortable with the more sensitive souls...well the ones who's egos aren't TOO over-inflated.

That's just me - and what's right to me, may not be right for others.

[pash]

Some ideas: volunteer organizations, sports leagues, side jobs that require interaction with more people, or even just organizing a night out where the friends you have invite their friends from other activities/dimensions.

[Rage]

I remember when my life was my friends. I had a few really close ones too that I could tell anything. Well, we've all gone our own ways and while close, I don't have that person I can confide in outside my family. It seems harder to find those people for meaningful talks now that I'm older.

[sparky88]

I don't know, there's tons of people in the world and there's nothing holding you back from making a friend. Sometimes it takes awhile to find someone that really meshes with your interests/values/work schedule but if you keep putting yourself out there your bound to come across all kinds of people.

I met one of my good friends at a hair salon, and now know about 10 other people in my town because of that friendship. It certainly takes more effort to become friends (planning, purposeful invites, etc) and that can be uncomfortable at first. Now that I've been out of college 3 1/2 years I can honestly say I have more friends than I have time. I wish I could see everyone more often--but there is never a shortage of fun things on the calendar. Now, my first 2 years out of school were a completely different story because I was working non-stop, couldn't get my mind off my 'old' college life/friends, and took awhile to adjust to the idea of having all the possibilities in the world at my finger tips. I think forums like this one helped me realize I was stuck in a common slump and that it was up to me to get back out there and embrace my 'adult' life. Make it whatever I want it to be. Good luck!

[MsRiss7383]

I don't know, there's tons of people in the world and there's nothing holding you back from making a friend. Sometimes it takes awhile to find someone that really meshes with your interests/values/work schedule but if you keep putting yourself out there your bound to come across all kinds of people.

I met one of my good friends at a hair salon, and now know about 10 other people in my town because of that friendship. It certainly takes more effort to become friends (planning, purposeful invites, etc) and that can be uncomfortable at first. Now that I've been out of college 3 1/2 years I can honestly say I have more friends than I have time. I wish I could see everyone more often--but there is never a shortage of fun things on the calendar. Now, my first 2 years out of school were a completely different story because I was working non-stop, couldn't get my mind off my 'old' college life/friends, and took awhile to adjust to the idea of having all the possibilities in the world at my finger tips. I think forums like this one helped me realize I was stuck in a common slump and that it was up to me to get back out there and embrace my 'adult' life. Make it whatever I want it to be. Good luck!

Sparky, I am so glad to hear that you have made so many friends! I don't mean to sound negative, but I am happy to "put myself out there" but I just don't meet anyone and the people I do meet aren't really looking for new friends. I have tried joining meet-up groups (which I love) but haven't met anyone I would consider a friend (largely because most of them are a lot older than me with families, different interests, etc.) I am not religious so I wouldn't join a church group and I am not interested in joining a politcal campaign because I think all politicians are evil. I don't like my coworkers and I feel that I have to be guarded around them anyway. I love the enthusiasm so many of you express at your success in putting yourself out there, but I guess I am lost on the practicalities of how to put myself in a situation where I make that first contact. I also do spinning classes and yoga at the gym and I find that the people there are also in their 40's and
50's with families. They are nice enough, but not people I could "hang out" with. I am not trying to be negative, I am just geniunely at a loss...

[winneythepooh7]

Why not advertise on Craigslist and start your own group to meet other people? There's gotta be others in your area who are in the same boat.