Due to my divorce I have been forced to face a hard reality and the worst part is I already knew this truth. I had just forgotten it. People don’t seek out new friends. Most of us make friends through reoccurring meetings of either work, school, church etc but we don’t actively seek to make friends.
Initially that seems okay and in general it is unless you are the new person or the person with a life altering transition which removes you from your comfort zone. It is then you realize how much on the outside you are. What do I mean? While there are a few super friendly types, most of us wait for the other person to ask us to join them. We don’t try to include ourselves for fear of being pushy or not being wanted or not fitting in.
The people who are already in a circle friendship are unaware that they are excluding anyone because they are preoccupied with their own sense of comfort and staying in that comfort zone. They have forgotten what it’s like to be new or facing a new life challenge. It’s difficult making friends. I am not sure it’s easy for anyone and it’s certainly not easy for someone that is shy or insecure or hurting. As the world hustles along and people are busy interacting, they fail to recognize those around them in need of friendship. Many of you will be thinking, these people should just come along or ask to join in but when you are on the outside looking in, it’s not easy. You fear being rejected and not wanted, so it’s easier just to stay alone.
How simple it would be if each of us just tried to make one new friend. To speak to one new person a day and ask one new person to join us for lunch or a drink each week. The best friend you might ever have could be out there and because we tend to look only forward with blinders on, we miss so many people who could add dimension and meaning and joy to our lives.
So my challenge to you is spend the rest of 2014 seeking out new friends, expand your circle and you’ll expand your joy and life experiences.
A Fresh New Life 