10 Simple Steps to making friends

Isolation and loneliness are worrisome for seniors as they age.  Staying socially active is important for all of us as we age. An active social life helps seniors connect and contribute to their community, maintain their sense of identity and self-worth, and gain greater happiness, in addition, seniors who have friends and have an active social life tend to have fewer unhealthy behaviors. However, over time many of us have lost the ability to meet new friends that we had when we were young.

As children and young adults, we learned how to make friends. As we age, death and disabilities take away many of these friends. We often need to relearn some social skills and that can be very challenging for shy people. I have my own technique for making friends but I recently came across this resource called 10 Simple Steps and found that most of the techniques I use are listed, but there were a few that I had not thought of for making friends. 

10 Simple Steps are for those who would like more friends in their lives and are not quite sure how to find them. Remember, you don’t have to do all these. Change can be difficult at any time of life, especially if a person is shy.  

These steps were developed by a group of seniors who had experienced a loss of a spouse or lost their social networks due to caregiving or other circumstances. These people created the Social Skills For Shy Seniors as part of the Eldercare Foundation’s Seniors’ Dialogues program.  Give these tips a try, or pass them on to someone you think might benefit from them.  Life is better when you have friends to talk to!

You are only old once

I love Dr Suess and his whimsical sense of humour. I found this on the Internet and it is a take-off on Dr Suess famous "Cat in the Hat".  Dr Suess did a wonderful book on ageing called, "You're only old once".  If you want the Youtube version of this book, go here, 

The parody below is very dark when it comes to ageing. Dr Suess actually took a lighter view of ageing. His book, which I think we should all read, just to regain our sense of wonder ends with this thought. 

And you'll know

once your necktie's

back under your chin

and Norval has waved you

Godspeed with his fin,

you're in pretty good shape

 for the shape, you are in.

Life lessons learned

Many of us play "follow the leader in life." This is an important role, but sometimes we need to play the leadership role. Leadership is not easy and not something many of us want to do, however, I always believed that I could count on myself and my friends to uncover the truth and play a leadership role when required while others just played.

I was never surprised to find myself standing by my principles when the going got tough. And there was never any doubt in my mind that when faced with a fork in the road, that I would take the path less travelled.

Over a lifetime, this has lead to many adventures, some good, some bad, but I never had any idea that life would reward me for taking the path less travelled. 

How have you followed your path, have you been a follower or a leader and have you travelled the path less followed? If you have you know how much fun it can be. Life is great and the adventure continues.

It doesn't take much

It doesn't take much, to surround yourself with good friends, good times, and big bucks.

In fact, it doesn't take anything at all.

Visualize.

And for added effect, saunter.

Tallyho, ho, ho :-)