Do You Make Friends With Strangers?

I remember when I was a teenager my dad informed me that I make friends easily but I don't keep them. He said I expect a lot from people and although I have really changed a lot, maybe I'm still that way in some ways. I certainly don't let people in unless I know or really have a good feeling that they are in a certain space.

I was at the pool today and there were a couple moms that I almost had a conversation with. They were talking to each other but they said something that really resonated with me and I was really close to adding myself to that conversation, but I didn't.

Before that I talked to my landlord for quite awhile. We talked a ton, and I always thought she was really nice and we've had tons of great conversations, but nothing like the kind of conversation we had before. I've realized that I've been so busy that I haven't really let a lot of people in recently and I told myself I'd try to do that.

I have, in the past made a lot of friends with strangers really quickly and easily but with these women I just didn't want to try. I guess it takes a long time for me to feel comfortable with most people, but sometimes I can make friends so, super fast, but it's been quite a while since that happened and I miss that.

 

Don't overthink of it. You can just shout oud lout your inner thoughts. They should talk back, and then you can also participate in the discussion. If they do not talk back, no harm done!

As for making friends; I miss it too. I have no problem approaching people and talking to them (I could easily become a politician!) but the connection no longer happens. I am also busy as you are and I do not have time for friendship. I don't know what to advice for this...

 

Yes

 

Rarely.

 

I do. I talk to everybody. I went to a concert a few weeks ago and found out that the people next to me were celebrating an anniversary and went out for an Italian dinner before. The mother/son behind us (Connie and Billy) drove from West Virginia to go to the concert for her birthday. I'm now fb friends with them and have texted with Billy a few times. I just kind of make friends everywhere I go. I have one of those "talk to me" kind of faces I guess. I actually made friends with a few people from another concert a few years ago and have stayed with one of them when I go to Chicago sometimes.

 

sure. not most strangers obviously, but it happens occasionally.

 

Well, there's a difference between being friendly and making friends. A facebook friend is not a real friend for me...I'm not saying it's not for other people, but for me, I barely use facebook and what I use it for, is not really social.

I think I'm used to making friends everywhere I go, but I'm realizing that hasn't actually happened in about a year or more, it's just that I wasn't paying attention all this time because I've been so pre-occupied with everything and so many things have happened since. I guess I'm not nearly as open either because I definitely put up a wall, because I don't really trust people.

 

I'll talk to anybody. Mostly it's good but there are times I wish I hadn't because the folks are borderline psycho's. Case in point, this guy who followed me around the store and kept repeating," I play the harmonica, do you play the harmonica too?" As far as making friends with them, that rarely happens because its more than likely a one time chance encounter.

 

At one point I made lots of friends and kept them.

But there came a point when I didn't feel like I needed friends so much in my life. Which is really sad if you think about it. But I became very busy with life, my life, you know the one with goals and deadlines and responsibilities.

I find that if you see an old friend that you haven't for awhile, with a good friend nothing really changes. You still get on well and it's not hard to be close to them again.

But friend circles change when you get older and it's okay to need your peers less.

In your teenage years, your peers are your entire world from the time you wake to the time your head hits the pillow and it's crazy important for young people to be among peers as much as possible. idk why it's just a phase in your life when you need friends to help figure out who you are.

But then things change, and you don't focus so much on making friends because you are already comfortable and happy with your life. You have friends. Good friends. And you don't necessarily need to the attention of your friends all the time to make yourself feel good.

That being said, I made a new friend this week. We got juice and falafels together and I gave her my phone number. We connected on a friend level and it wasn't forced or planned.

 

Friends with strangers? I guess I have to say no. I've been told I don't look very approachable. I'm quiet and keep to myself.

 

Mmm. I want a falafel friend.

 

no. i MAKE things with a 3d printer, or plastistruct and alph cayanoacrilate, or in any of a considerable number of methods of being creative.

i meet people i haven't previously met, by meeting them.

 

I make easily friendly contact with strangers but it appears to be I am making less friends with new people lately. It used to happen just on itself and I never or rarely felt the need to actively pursue new friendships (since I already had a couple of good ones that made me felt complacent in this regard). Now that some of my friends are moving away and/or settling I notice I am not making new real friends that easily.

 

That does happen more with me, now that I seem to get more extroverted with age.

 

I dont make friends with strangers easily at all. I'm very shy and I'm horrible at small talk. All the friends I've collected in my 20s I've met through mutual friends.

 

With strangers? No, not really but on a few occasions it happened, usually more with people I work with or people in my profession. I don't think I am too shy to do it but usually when I am out it seems to be about doing something or business.
I have made friends through work places mostly and most times I met a boyfriend it was someone I worked with and gained an attraction to.
My first and second hubby were through work, second hubby, I met at work and we lived as roommates first then became a couple when we decided to actually live together and run a business together, later getting married. I'd still be with him if he hadn't passed on, we had a good thing going in all ways that there was working and living together as a relationship.
Many asked how we could do it, I dunno, we just became good friends, and it seemed we just got along that well. He was a good listener most times and that's probably why, he was easy going. He also knew I had good business sense and he road along with it being my strong arm for the heavy stuff where I was the smarts part of it all. He was also the push to get things happening, I am the kind who can but needs a kick in the ass sometimes.

 

Repitition of seeing certain people every day can lead to friendships sometimes....but no, I don't go up to strangers on the street and make friends with them.....

 

Where I live now has alot of nice people, though....and I am happy to have made friends with all of my neighbors.....and people in the neighborhood......and most people I see every day jogging the dogs have become pretty good friends now, as well....but it took some real time.......I have have not met anyone in this town that i don't like.

 

I tend to make acquaintances often with strangers but to really take it to a friend level, I feel that needs time to develop. I enjoy being with people and meeting new people but until I have spent time with someone it is not as open a friendship as I would like to have with people.

 

Having a casual conversation with someone doesn't qualify them as a friend to me.
As far as being approachable by strangers -- sometimes.
I've had some good laughs and interesting brief conversation with strangers though.
My two most favorite were a man that walked up to me as we were both stuck in the rain, waiting for it to pass and another man, who was from the south, in a doctor's office.
Those were nice conversations.