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This is solid advice right here. Dogs just naturally break down conversational barriers.
I filled a huge good by finding a league. Everyone I socialize with now is involved.Join a sports league...I did this years ago and it made it pretty easy. Since then I've made some of the best friends I've ever had in my life.
Even video gaming can be a wonderful portal to new friends (I know you said solo as the bad example). Most of my adult friends are people I met through video games, or co-workers at one time.I think the thread here is to join something.. can be softball league, can be a church family, could be habitat for humanity, a cycling club, take some classes.. anything but video gaming solo at home..
And reach out to people. Do some fun shit now and then.. if that does not work.. consider why that is.. perhaps you aren't comfortable in your neighborhood or something. The ask yourself where or under what circumstances are you relaxed..
Even better than video gaming is tabletop RPG gaming, which my husband does a lot of. Most of his friends are through that. Requires more face to face interaction than video games.Even video gaming can be a wonderful portal to new friends (I know you said solo as the bad example). Most of my adult friends are people I met through video games, or co-workers at one time.
The more things you're interested in and DO in life, the more opportunities you create for these moments. I was told when I was a kid that making friends is easy, maintaining the friendship takes work. It is literal work to keep in touch w/ people and for many of us, a post on a FB page doesn't really get it done anymore.
You are spot on.. the interesting dynamic of a generation raised on Video games is that relationships are more maintainable over time.. my youngest is still tight with his crew from cubscouts, and they are literally scattered all over the world..Even video gaming can be a wonderful portal to new friends (I know you said solo as the bad example). Most of my adult friends are people I met through video games, or co-workers at one time.
The more things you're interested in and DO in life, the more opportunities you create for these moments. I was told when I was a kid that making friends is easy, maintaining the friendship takes work. It is literal work to keep in touch w/ people and for many of us, a post on a FB page doesn't really get it done anymore.
RPGs and board games in general have exploded because it is a context for small gathering.. As an OG avalon hill fan, I love to see it.. I Columbus there is a thing Colimbus Area Boardgaming Society.. prepandemic they would host shows for new games and trials.. I took my sons there in thier early teens and they both still play..Even better than video gaming is tabletop RPG gaming, which my husband does a lot of. Most of his friends are through that. Requires more face to face interaction than video games.
You're also right about keeping in touch and how that takes effort. FB posts are another thing that just aren't the same as face to face interaction. Can't really maintain a relationship if you can't meet face to face. Husband and I may have initially met through an Internet friend via AIM in 2004, but then we met in person and continued meeting up in that fashion, and everything went from there.