Connecting to Community
We know that having friends improves our health and sense of well-being, reduces stress, and improves your feeling of belonging. In fact, studies show it can even help us live longer!
For many of us, however, our day-to-day lives don’t offer many opportunities to deepen our relationships or meet new people. Being part of a group where members share interests or work together can be a great way to start.
Explore your interests
Do you like to read, play board or video games, watch movies, talk about politics, try new foods, knit, or hike? Whatever your hobbies and interests, there’s probably a group for that! Your city’s parks and recreation department lists many classes and clubs for people of a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.
A community of people that focuses on your specific disability could be a great place to start. Online networks can also be really helpful, such as the Diversability Leadership Collective. It can be a good thing to connect with people who share the same lived experiences, as they’relikely to be more supportive. If you have an additional component to your identity, such as being part of a specific culture, there might be a group associated with that, too!
Use online resources
You know about dating apps, but there are apps for people looking to meet new friends, too! Here are just a few:
Meetup: Explore events, activities, and clubs for whatever interests you, in your local area.
Bumble BFF: This app for meeting new friends works similarly to its partner dating app, Bumble.
Hey! VINA: “Like Tinder, for (girl)friends,” Hey! VINA was developed by women, for women.”
Friender: On this app, take a simple survey, then the service finds good friend matches for you.
Yubo: When you’re on this app, which was specifically designed for young people, you can take it slow, have conversations with people online, and play it safe, without any pressure.
Skout: This app was designed to help people meet new friends or dating partners.
This is just a sampling of the many apps and online forums where you might meet new people and form friendships.
Volunteer
Volunteering for causes and organizations you care about is not only a way to make the world a better place, but also to combat loneliness, give you a sense of purpose, and make connections with new people! Your shared commitment to service can also be a bond you share with new friends. Think about issues you’re passionate about. Animals? Maybe volunteer at your local Humane Society. Health care? Maybe you can volunteer at a senior home or children’s hospital. Your local CIL or another organization for those with disabilities would probably love to have you share your knowledge and experience with others!
Make things happen for yourself
Not finding a group in your local area that excites you? Why not create one of your own? Start a book club, a crafting group, or an online forum. You could use social media to invite people to join you. Remember that if you’re struggling to find people, chances are that others are too.
Take the next step
Once you’re in a group, forum, or volunteer team, you’ll probably meet someone you’d like to get to know better or would like to spend more time with. Pull them aside and ask if they’d like to make plans for a post-meeting coffee, lunch, movie, or walk. And don’t feel bad if they have other plans; it’s not personal. Good friends are worth waiting for!
