October 19 is National New Friends Day. Wow! A special holiday for making new connections in your life and looking for possible new connections everywhere. We know that having friends makes us happy and fulfilled so why not add some new ones?
Why make new friends?
I love my friends. But so many of them have moved and while we still keep in touch, we just can’t hang out like we used to. One of my clients was sharing with me that she was turning 65 this week and since her best friend moved away, she had no one to celebrate with. When she called her friend, her friend suggested that she honor her special day by going to the Botanical Gardens. Friends make us feel included and important. They make us feel like we matter.
While we love our current friends, making new friends helps us stay connected with humanity and helps us with our struggle with loneliness.
We want to remember that it’s okay if new friends are different. They may be in a different age group or come from a different cultural background. We may learn about exciting hobbies or places of interest. Making friends with people different from us is a great way to better understand the world we live in.
Where do we find these new friends?
I have found new friends through my professional organizations. Some through our local NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing) meetings and some through social media. It’s great to go to an ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) or NAPO conference and see face to face people you are growing friendships with online.
You might make a friend by starting a conversation with someone you often see at your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. When you walk in your neighborhood take time to chat with neighbors who are also out.
Another good way is to get involved in local activities. You might help with the clean-up in your neighborhood event or work at a homeless shelter. You may volunteer to walk shelter dogs. You could join a biking or hiking club. You could become more active in your church groups or join the choir. Choose activities that you enjoy, and you will meet up with people that you have things in common with.
While we want to be faithful to our existing friends, let’s leave space for new friends. This new friend could become your new best friend. You never know how valuable a new friendship might be.
If you like working with people on your personal projects, join Diane Quintana and me in our Clear Space for You virtual support group and meet some new people working on their organizing projects.
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.
I love this photo of all of us. When I worked in television, I spent all of my days (and too many nights) at work and in each city, I rarely knew anyone outside of work except an occasional neighbor. For my past 21+ years as a professional organizer, almost all of my newly made friends have been in organizing, but it's a breath of fresh air to know such personally and geographically disparate people! That said, I definitely haven't engaged as many new friends in my life over recent years as I did in the past, and you've reminded me that new friends added to the collection of long-standing ones, will keep life vibrant!
It is so important to be a part of a community. Thank you for sharing this essential reminder.
This reminds me of a song my mom used to sing when she led my sister's Brownie and Girl Scout troops..."Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. A circle is round. It has no end. That's hold long I want to be your friend."
I was probably 3 or 5 years old then, but I still remember those words. Friendships have always been an important, essential part of my life. I treasure my old friends and enjoy making new ones too.