I've come to the realization that one of the hardest things in the adult world is making friends. We're not forced into social situations like school, college, or church (because mom and dad made you go). No more more summer sports and no more summer camps. It's especially hard when you work out of your home. And for those who are incorporate America and allowed or able to find friendships in co-workers-lucky you.
I find the older I get, the more important it is for me to make friends who I have things in common with. Not that I don't have great friends who are completely opposite of myself, but my soul yearns to have friendships with those who love the things that I too love. Someone(s) I can delve into my hubbies and favorite things with. Someone who will understand what makes me tick and understand my dreams. I feel like everyone around me is settling down and relaxing with life, while I still yearn for adventure and always being on the go. I sometimes wonder if that part of me will ever come to a halt or even slow down.
So how does one find new friends when you're about to breach the rightful old age of 30? Okay not old but I'm not a young pup anymore either. My husband and I went out to breakfast at a trendy little dinner in Salt Lake a couple of Sundays ago when I spied this amazing specimen of a female. Her tattoo on her arm immediately drew my attention. So colorful and bright. She rung us up after our meal and she was so so nice. She had the cutest hair piece and bright red lips. This was my kind of girl. Artsy, colorful, fashionable, and a lover of red lipstick.
As my husband and I left the restaurant and headed back to the car, I asked him "how do I become friends with someone like that?" His response, "tell her 'we should hang out'!" Really?? Do adults do that? Especially with someone of the same sex? (Not to be confused with me asking a male to hang out as I am obviously married) The introvert in me would in no way let the extrovert win this battle. I imagine them in a heated tug-of-warm game with the intro yanking the extro maliciously over the line telling her "theres no way in hell you have the guts to do something like that." Why? Because it all boils down to my fear of rejection and looking like an ass..or a stalker..or weirdo. Not to say that the tattooed gem of a friend would have turned me away but you never know. I can say that if someone approached me and suggested we hang out, I would be all for it.
I have been brainstorming the last few weeks on how to find individuals who like the things that I do. Most of my thoughts drift towards a volunteer or non profit organization that I feel passionate about (and can manage squeezing into my schedule), photography get togethers, the SLC Instawalk or different types of festivals. Really, it can't be as hard as I am building it up to be and and when I finally decide which direction to go, I need to let the extrovert in me have a fair battle with maybe a win at tug-of-war here and there.
Totally digging this right now..
