Alone and Afraid: Dealing with Loneliness

@Franki420 in my history club I met this young guy who is a goth metal head that is half my age. I am 43. He is 25. His girlfriend and him just got engaged. Yes he is half my age but he is a cool guy. I just left an engagement party he had at his house. His fiancé and him got engaged. It was a little weird going to a house of goth folks with black lipstick. But they all were so nice to me. We are at different stages in life and he isn’t someone I do 40 year old stuff with. He is younger and has some different interests. But he found a friend in me and I in him. I would have never met him if I had not gone out into the community and went exploring. Sometimes it takes some planning with work and stuff but it can be done. I’ve never been to a goth heavy metal engagement celebration party but I did today. And it was a lot of fun!

@Franki420 you gotta go where the people are that are interested in similar things. This way when you show up you at least have a common ground. Painting. Jewelry. Cosplay. The list goes on. Whatever your thing is I guarantee there is a group somewhere that does it

@Franki420 sometimes it helps to reach out to new places. What I mean is even if your not a church going person go just to meet and associate with other people. Look in the paper and on Facebook for local events, games, singles events. Write a list of things your interested in and then look at local bookstores the library and online for groups in your area that do that stuff. It can be a little scary at first because your walking in to a group that you know nothing about. And they don’t know you. Some Sundays I will literally just pick a church and walk in. Don’t be afraid of it. I found a Middle Ages history club in my area that meets sometimes. Sometimes you got to think outside the box. If you have kids go to the playground with them and strike up conversations with other parents. You can make new friends. It’s hard to break out of your comfort zone to do that. I get it. But you never know who in your area is wanting the same thing you are. Connection.