People Are Amazing

The Simplicity and Importance of Making New Friends

Making friends is simple, you just have to be yourself, smile, and say hi. Photo: Martin Spiske, Unsplash.

Every day we hear and read about people doing bad things but in reality most people are amazing, like really incredible amazing. It’s people and nature that have created all the beautiful things we have access to in this world. Let’s not forget.

But during the pandemic, we were told that people were now dangerous, lethal even, and we were asked to socially distance ourselves from them, at least six feet. And I think that left a big scar in humanity, plunging many into a very unhealthy loneliness.

I’ve recently read a lot of articles on the subject but also reflected over my own post-pandemic experiences. A few weeks ago I decided to explore the simplest ways of making new friends (thus my very temporary hiatus from this newsletter).

Even though I have lots of old friends, new friends add value by meeting you where you are today, sharing your current values, activities, and dreams without still being polluted by whom you once were a long time ago. They are also critical to your growth.

The reasons for making new friends could be many: moving to a new location, changing jobs, kids attending new school, tired of the old friends, needing new inspiration and influences, finding people to enjoy a new activity, dating et cetera.

Loneliness seems to be the next big epidemic and yet social interaction is critical for our longevity and wellbeing as per the now famous Harvard research project. We need to physically be with interesting and fun people to grow, learn, and live well.

It was simple in school as it was all play. Also simple at university as we all had been selected and felt a common bond. Plus alcohol lubricated any shyness. Then at work we bonded with shared interests and career ambitions, finally finding our tribe.