Have you ever thought about the fact that, for most of our lives, the majority of our friends are “accidental?” When we are children, we choose our friends from among the other kids in our classes. When we join the workforce, our colleagues form the backbone of our social life. When we become parents, our life becomes an intricate dance of sports events, sleep overs camping trips and family dinners.

Why is Making Friends as an Adult So Tricky?

When we reach our 60s, our relationships start to change. Perhaps this is the reason that many women find the transition to life after retirement stressful. Without our comfortable relationships to support us, it’s easy to feel isolated, or even a little lonely.

There is a bright side to this situation though. With fewer “accidental” relationships to worry about, we are finally free to find people who share our passions and values. This requires a genuine effort – but, it is worth the trouble.

Do You Know Who Your True Friends Are?

Oprah Winfrey once said “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” Today, I invite you to think about the people in your life. Are they lifting you higher? Even if they are, you can never have too many positive people in your life.

I personally choose to see life after 60 as an opportunity to meet amazing people – men and women that I would have never had the opportunity to talk with when I was navigating my career and raising my children.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please add your comments below.

What do you think are the keys to making friends as an adult? Have you made any interesting friendships lately? What is the one thing you most look for in a new friend?