Friendless Fridays

My Fridays off have always been my scheduled "chillax" day. A day to reflect on the past week's activities, conversations, interactions and also a day where I food shop, clean house and plan for the upcoming week's menu. I adore food; preparing it, cooking it, and pairing it with an irresistable wine. I enjoy daily chores around the house and providing a warm, clean home for me and my family to enjoy. I enjoy spending the day with my furry kids. However, today has me thinking: in this new state, the place we call home (for now), I am facing a predicament I like to call "The Friend Factor". As an adult, I am finding it harder and harder to make friends. How is my introverted behavior perceived by others? Did my cult upbringing affect my ability to be socially accepted? Is it me? Is it you? Or could it be simply that it's more difficult to make lasting friendships work as an adult due to responsibilities, biases, opinions, and strong political or religious views? Kids have it easier. Their best friend is whoever is within walking distance, or at school, on their bus or on the basketball team.

Sure there's Facebook, other forms of social media where we can connect with people. There's also the local bar and people at work. I enjoy my co-workers and even made a friend there. Go me! She is fabulous, I am keeping her. Yet in general, regarding colleagues, do I really want to talk about work over a glass of whatever when I just left work? Do I want all my friends to be work friends? Not really. And no offense to any of them, especially my special one. I want meaningful exchanges of ideas and values set out at the friendship table. I have my husband. He is my best friend and by far the person I would rather spend time with more than anyone else. At the same time, friends have something different to offer. I have been on the phone a lot recently with distant friends; thanks be to Alexander Graham Bell for that one! It still isn't the same as being with them. This week I popped into a local gym (since I love to workout) thinking maybe I'll take some sort of class and make some friends with like-minded people there. People getting healthier, bettering themselves. Yeah! That's the ticket! Well, when I saw the joining and monthly fee my jaw about hit the floor. I wasn't willing to pay the money required to join when I have an at-home library of workouts I love and I get to do most of them with my husband to boot. So, does anyone else in cyber space have the friend issue? How do you address it? Where do you meet people? My brain is tired. I think I'll go workout. Then maybe watch some Friends, or Seinfeld or Sex and the City.

#friends