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 Not everybody is blessed with a good circle of friends. For whatever reason we can all find ourselves without friends at some time in our lives. We may have moved away from home, started college, immigrated or we may even have fallen out with our friends.
For whatever reason, we need to make new friends. For some the process comes naturally. Without even thinking of it, some can surround themselves with a whole new group that provides support, entertainment and networking. For others the process is fraught with difficulties and social embarrassment. The most important thing to remember about trying to make friends is that you'll never do it without some effort on your part and the ability to make yourself available. Yes, making friends involves meeting people. Without meeting someone we can never truly know if we are comfortable with them. And only when we are comfortable with someone can we be their friend .
Do you Know your neighbours? We can often be a better social fit with our neighbours due to the tendencies of social groupings to set down roots in specific areas. So if you don't know them, make an effort. A good start is to pop round for sugar. Or even just knock and say hello. You'll be surprised how glad people will be to know who you are. The online world offers a huge opportunity to make friends in your area, without the awkward need for showing up to events on your own first. Consider joining some local websites. Maybe a forum centred around the place you live, a social networking site in your area or even one of the larger sites like Myspace or facebook. The key is to engage with people in your area. Having online buddies from far flung places is all fine for a while, but they will never be able to go to the pub with you, or get you drunk at a party. So if you do try the online route of making friends, try to target those that are from your area. Once we get to know somebody reasonably well on the internet, its a lot easier meet them in real life.  Joining clubs and organisations has always been a classic way of making friends. Dance classes, book clubs, wine clubs, charity organisation and self defence classes are all examples of what we could do to begin the process. Its not so much what you get involved in, more the activity of putting yourself out there. To make friends you must be available to other people to meet. OF course you won't make friends from every activity. But a negative attitude will get you just that - no friends.
Be positive about the process. Everyone can make friends. Millions have been in your shoes before. And they survived. You will too. Its just simply a matter of getting up from the couch and engaging with people. That means activity, it means effort. No-one will ever really knock on your door and ask to be your friend. |
