Friendships are one of life’s greatest joys. But, as you grow older, you may be in a situation where you need to form new friendships – perhaps you’ve moved recently to be closer to your children or into a new community, or one or more of your friends have passed on. If that’s the case, you might find these suggestions helpful when it comes to meeting new people.

Follow your heart

Do you love art? Are you a green-fingered gardener? Or perhaps bird-watching is your passion? Whatever energises you, use it to help you meet other people with the same interests – you’ll immediately have something in common, which will make it easier than ever to connect.

Give your time

Volunteering at a local charity that resonates with you is another way to meet like-minded individuals. Once you’ve decided where you’d like to volunteer your time, spend a few weeks getting to know your fellow volunteers. Then, if there are one or two people you find it easy to chat to, take the plunge and invite them to join you for a cup of coffee after your session.

Adopt a pet

Not only is man’s best friend a wonderful companion, but owning one gives you instant access to a community of fellow animal lovers and opens the door to morning and evening chats with other dog walkers. Do remember though that pets a huge responsibility and buying or adopting a dog, or any other type of pet, should only be entered into after careful consideration.

Join a vibrant community

Evergreen Lifestyle Villages offer residents plenty of wonderful opportunities to connect. Our inviting Lifestyle Centres feature open-plan lounges, spacious communal areas and dedicated games rooms – perfect spaces to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or a new neighbour, take part in a games evening, join in regular card games, cheer on your favourite team with fellow sports’ fans, or get together around shared hobbies and interests. There are also a number of clubs, societies and special interest groups that meet regularly and discuss everything from books and bird-watching to walking and wine.

Getting friendship right

If it’s been a while since you started up a new friendship, keep these three things in mind as you to get to know people.

• Be patient
  New friendships don’t just happen. It takes time and energy to get to know someone, but it’s worth it!

• Be a good listener
  No-one enjoys spending time with people who only talk about themselves. Friendship is a two-way street, so as much as you share about your life, listen to what others have to say about theirs.

• Be brave
  Meeting new people sometimes means stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking the first step or sharing something personal in order to build a deeper connection. Don’t hold back – a good friend is a valuable treasure.

Keen to find out more about Evergreen’s vibrant, fun-loving community of friends?