Old friends are great. These are the people that you’ve known for ages and know like the back of your hand. They are aware of all of your idiosyncrasies and truly accept who you are.
But sometimes you want to meet new people too. People from different walks of life; people who are interesting and fun. So, how do you meet these new people that you hope to soon call “friend”? Here are a few options:
Join a Group
When you are around people that like the same things you do, you’re sure to make some new friends. After all, you’re all passionate about the same thing, so you could probably talk for hours and hours and still want to talk some more.
Ask yourself what interests you and look for a club or group that focuses on that. For instance, you may find a hobby based club (like one that goes hiking or collects something) that you are interested in, or a political club if you really enjoy your politics.
One online place that has grown in popularity is Meetup. They have groups for everything from food and drink to tech to dancing. Just pick one (or look through all of the meetups), enter your location and you’ll come up with all of your options.
If you can’t find a group that entices you, you can always create one of your own. Be a leader in your area and connect with people that share your interests. You’ll definitely make some new friends along the way.
Hang Out With Friends of Friends
Your friends are pretty good judges of character; after all, they chose you to be friends with, right? Well, if they like you then there is a good chance that they have other friends who are just as wonderful and likely a lot of fun to be around so you may want to meet them too.
Find things that you can do as a group, like going to a club or going out to eat. When you are around people that you don’t know all that well but your friends do, you’re sure to make some new connections, especially if you find yourself in each other’s company again and again.
Host a Party
No one says you have to go out to make new friends as there are opportunities for starting some really great friendships without stepping foot out your door. Host a party and tell your attendees to bring their friends. This allows you to meet new people without leaving the comforts of your own home.
If you like people who are willing to go outside their comfort zone and have a good time, throw a party and ask people to wear their favorite 80’s garb or to dress like a famous celebrity. Who knows? You may wind up best friends with a big-haired girl or a Jennifer Aniston look-a-like.
Strike Up a Conversation With Anyone and Everyone
If you ask a bunch of friends how they met, you’ll likely get some pretty wild answers. Although some will give the typical “we went to school together” or “we work together” responses, some friends meet in the strangest of places – like in line at the grocery store or while sitting in a waiting room for a family member that is in counseling (true story; it happened to me!).
It only goes to reason that the more people you talk to on a regular basis, the more likely you are to meet someone that interests you enough to continue the friendship. So, strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone you run across as they may be the friend you’ve been waiting to meet!
Some Tips and Guidelines For Meeting New People
When trying to meet new people, you may feel a little awkward or uncomfortable (almost like when you’re going on a blind date). Therefore, here are some tips and guidelines to help you through the process:
- Always, always be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you think others will like as you’re much better off letting them get to know the real you and like who you truly are, rather than pretending you’re someone else and risking that they’re not going to like you once they actually get to know you.
- Don’t try too hard. The more relaxed you are, the less likely people will be turned off by your extreme eagerness to make a new friend. While it is great to want to expand your social circle, pouncing on someone else and constantly referring to them as “my new friend” may weird them out a bit.
- Be prepared to walk away. Not everyone you meet is friendship material, so be prepared to walk away if you’re not connecting with them or if they aren’t the kind of person that you’d like to have as a friend. There are plenty of other people in the world, so don’t settle for a friend that is so/so and you don’t enjoy because you may miss out on your next best gal pal if you do.
- Step outside of your comfort zone. Putting yourself out there to meet new friends can push you beyond your comfort zone and leave you feeling vulnerable and open to judgment. However, if you don’t take chances, you’re almost ensuring a lifetime of loneliness. Step outside of your comfort zone and you’re more likely to experience friendships that are deep and meaningful.
Now that you have a few ideas and some general guidelines, get out there and meet new people. Your new friend awaits you – they just may not know it yet!
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