Last month, we had a bit of a friend-raising theme going. Katie shared how she started a Facebook group geared toward getting kids outside. She also did a feature on the freakin’ awesome cookbook club she is a part of. I was fortunate enough to attend two of those events and I can only aspire to be a part of that community. I also gave you the 411 on starting your very own Meetup group. Today I’m back with a post that’s maaaybe a couple of weeks late if I wanted it to fit into that monthly theme, but WTF how is it April already?
As someone who has moved to a new city a few times since graduating from college, I know that making friends as an adult is super hard. Like really tough. There’s no longer access to a pool of people with similar interests like when we were on sports teams or going to school. I feel like adults usually meet friends at work or through a partner or the parents of your kids’ friends, but guess what? I had none of that! I’ve been self-employed since college, kidless, and long-distance dating. That being said, I’ve had to make friends on my own time and I’ve been so fortunate to meet awesome people, but it all came with some legwork.
I geared this post towards meeting friends of a certain type, because a while back one of my girlfriends asked me how she could meet more people like me. More people that were chill AF instead of anxious and stressed. More friends that had a mindfulness tilt. Know that you can take the advice below and alter it to whatever activity you are into. Each time you see the word mindful simply change it to the activity or trait you’re looking for whether it’s mountain biking, oil painting, or marathon running, this post should help you make more friends 🙂 Good luck!
Ways to Meet Mindful Friends:
- Join a Meetup group that focuses on meditation
- Go to a yoga class
- Seek out events that mindful people would attend
- Find a yoga or meditation festival near you
- Look for online forums conversing meditation and mindfulness
- Attend a mindfulness book reading or author signing
Join a Meetup group that focuses on meditation – There are dozens of groups in every major city that focus on meditation and mindfulness. Even if you are from a small town, with a quick google search, you can find a group that meets weekly or monthly. Join the group. Attend the meetings and begin to network. Once you feel comfortable in the group setting, you’ll start to make connections with other mindful people. If you sense a friendship blossoming, don’t be afraid to ask that person out on a friend date without the meditation group.
Go to a yoga class – Yoga and mindfulness go hand in hand. While a yoga class in itself is a solitary act, before and after class is a great time to connect. Arrive to class early and insert yourself into the group chatter. You never know, your new best bud may be in attendance. If you are not comfortable at one yoga studio, don’t let that deter you. There are many kinds of yoga and yoga studios, and there is indeed one that is right for you.
Seek out events that mindful people would attend – Mindfulness and meditation is probably not your only interest, and this is true for your future friend. Start perusing your town’s monthly calendar and highlight a few events that interest you. Look for activities focused on cultivating awareness whether it’s for the earth, the community itself, or a particular hobby. Community events draw a wonderful mix of people with similar interests and are a great first step in making new friends.
Find a yoga or meditation festival or retreat near you – Festivals are a great sphere to make friends. Many in attendance look forward to the event for months and are amped to smile and chat with new people. Sign up as an attendee or even a volunteer. While at the festival, try to seek out opportunities to interact in smaller groups as well. Maybe there is a workshop or class you can attend. These smaller groups give people the chance to connect on a deeper level. If you really want to make friends, attend a retreat. These small groups encourage attendees to really connect and many people stay in contact long after the retreat is over. I’m hosting a retreat in June in North Carolina if you are serious about this friend-finding mission!
Look for online forums conversing meditation and mindfulness – It seems we spend a lot of time connecting online these days. While we don’t want your mindfulness friendship to exist solely online, this is an excellent place to start. Google, Reddit, and Meetup act as good search engines and starter forums to find events and people to connect with who have a common interest.
Attend a mindfulness book reading or author signing – Keep your eye out for book readings and author signings near you. Pay specific attention to books that deal with mindfulness and meditation. Arrive early and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with other attendees. If you have a chance to chat with the author afterward or during the Q&A session, go ahead and ask where he or she has met mindfulness friends in the past. This could open a door for you with other attendees who are also looking for a mindful community.
You may feel alone sometimes, but we all do. Know that other mindful folks are looking for a friend too. Start your friend-finding journey by attending mindfulness events and inserting yourself into spaces where you know meditative people will be hanging out.
