Keeping Socially Active As An Older Adult

“Time and good friends are two things that get more valuable the older you get.” - UNKNOWN

For many people, few things are more fulfilling and life-affirming than being in the company of good friends. The importance of friendship and companionship universally applies to all stages of a person’s physical and mental development, and while the necessity of such bonds and connections remain constant throughout one’s life, the ease with which they are established and maintained is prone to change as time goes on. 

This trend, while unfortunate, is completely natural and, with work, can be curtailed. 

To remain socially active as an older adult and continue to share the joy life has to offer with people who make the world seem brighter, there are multiple different avenues and resources readily available to make doing so easier and even enjoyable.

THE INTERNET IS YOUR FRIEND

First and foremost, the world wide web can offer a treasure trove of opportunities to connect with people and begin to form strong relationships. 

Popular social media sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, which streamline the process of connecting with people who are both familiar and unfamiliar, are easy-to-use and accessible tools that make finding and reaching out to potential friends all the easier. There are also online forums and chat rooms designated for people with assorted interests to explore and share their passions with similarly minded people. 

Your community may have a website that regularly posts upcoming events, volunteer service opportunities, and local group meetings that function as safe and effective ways to meet and connect with new people. 

The ways in which the internet can facilitate the formation of meaningful social bonds are incalculable, and all it takes to start finding and making use of them is a quick Google search.

KEEP AN EAR OUT

While a valuable one, the internet is not the only tool for learning about what is occurring in the community and ways in which social connections can be formed. Oftentimes, the most crucial tools in one’s pursuit of a more fulfilling social life can be found affixed to the side of their head. 

By simply remaining on the lookout and listening for the sound of opportunity knocking, all it would then take to begin expanding one’s circle and living a more socially fulfilling life would be to answer the door. 

PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE

Keeping one’s ear out can only take them so far, however. There’s also the matter of placing themselves in a position to become aware of chances to form personal connections and achieve social satisfaction. 

In many communities, town hall meetings and libraries can be an excellent means of remaining up-to-date on opportunities for meeting new people and developing new relationships. 

Participating in local service activities, charity events and religious functions are also astoundingly effective ways to meet like-minded people who have connections to other similarly passionate people. 

Attending locally-offered classes and clubs which relate to personal passions puts one in immediate circulation with individuals with whom they share common interests and who are likely eager to connect and form personal bonds. 

Any gathering, congregation, or activity that allows for direct contact with other people can be monumental in the pursuit of social fulfillment, as participation in any one of them can instigate a snowball effect wherein meeting one person can lead to meeting another person, then another, then another, until eventually a healthy social circle has been developed.  

BE OPEN-MINDED

Like the weather, life can sometimes be predictable but is also prone to throw a few surprise curveballs. 

When it comes to growing one’s social circle, it is important to take risks and try things that may have once seemed unappealing. By doing this, not only does one develop a more in-depth understanding of the world around them, but they also expose themselves to new and interesting people with unique perspectives that may complement their own and who may function as exemplary companions. 

Though it may feel like it at times, life is not a single-player game. It does not matter if one is in their early childhood, midway through their teenage years, or older adulthood; the presence of friends and a close social circle is vital for both personal and mental wellness. While aging may make the formation of such bonds harder than it was earlier in life, with effort and a willingness to try new things, a new friend can be just around the corner.

— Tucker Shuff