Making new friends, 10 passionate ways to connect with friends offline

Is your social schedule fairly blank?

If you don’t get out much or your phone list is filled to the brim with fun an interesting people, we all have one thing in common. We could all use more friends. Do you wish you had more friends but you just don’t know how to get started becoming the life of the party? Making friends can really brighten up your life and I have some tips that can help you fill your friends list.

Looking for a new best friend

I had a best friend, he used to hang out with me all the time. We would stay up all night laughing, talking, and enjoying each others company. Unfortunately he changed to the point where being friends was a chore. I ended the friendship hoping that he might get his life together and that maybe one day we could be best friends again.

I was officially best friendless. I had spent a lot of time making online friends, but being a stay-at-home dad that usually doesn’t go further than the local Wal-Mart or the apartment swimming pool, I had next to no close offline friends. If you are going to make offline friends here are some of the things I did to repopulate my offline friends list.

Making friends offline

10 passionate ways to Make friends offline

1. Get out of the house - Meeting people face to face requires getting off the couch. There was no way I was going to find a new friend as long as my backside was stuck to my favorite Lazy-Boy (I understand why its called a Lazy-Boy now.) I had to get up and shave so I didn’t look like a caveman (sorry Geico, but looking like the missing link is not gonna score you first impression points.)

Make the resolution to get out of the house more. You don’t have to wait until New Years, get it done. Now that you are out of the house what’s next?

2. Smile - A smile is infectious, not in the same way herpes is, but still a big smile on your face is always better than daggers in your eyes. Friend material will say to themselves, wow who is that person with that big grin on their face, I need to find out who they are.

3. Positive attitude - Being a Debbie Downer won’t get you many friends. Think about positive things that put a smile on your face and try to be as upbeat and positive as possible when approaching your next best friend.

Everyone could use more positive people with playful personalities in their lives, those are the people that get called first when their is a party.

4. Say hello - Don’t be scared go up and say hello. What’s the worst that could happen, they might say hello back? Your new friend will be impressed that you are sure enough about yourself that you can talk to a perfect stranger. You know why they call them perfect strangers? Because that strange might just be the perfect friend.

5. Make eye contact - Guys this one is for you. Your eyes should be focused on your new friends EYES, not her headlights. Breasts don’t talk back, but the person you are trying to meet will talk back if you smile, have a passionate positive attitude, and you are looking her in the eyes instead of ogling her rack.

6. Listen to them - Yes you actually have to listen to what friends are saying. You might find out that they are really interesting and a lot like you. Try this; ask your new acquaintance a question then shut your mouth and listen intently to what they are saying before opening your mouth. Let them finish their statement. People like and feel a closer bond to people that really listen to them and try to empathize with what they are saying.

7. Help someone - If you see someone about to walk to the door you are entering stop and hold the door open for them. If you are driving and you see someone that has a flat tire stop and help them. Offer to help carry something if you see someone that might need help. Helping people can be one of the best ways to meet new friends.

extra tip - Ask for help. Sometimes people just need to be asked and you’ll find they are some of the nicest most helpful people you have meet. These people make great offline friends.

8. Be available - When your friends call make sure to answer the phone. If you are busy then call them back as soon as you can. When you make yourself available for friendship, friendship makes itself available to you.

Make time for friends. The best relationships are between people that spend regular time with each other.

9. Schedule a date - If the only thing that is on your schedule is “Make a schedule” chances are you’ll be doing that alone if you ever get around to doing it. If you are planning to cook some burgers on the grill and drink some beers this weekend go knock on a neighbors door and invite them to the party. If you are not planning a cookout, put it on your new schedule.

I’m planning a big grill party this weekend, if you live in the Oklahoma City Area you should come over, have a steak, a bowl of chili, a beer, and meet someone that might just be your new best friend.

Note - I cook a mean steak and I’m an award wining chili champion.

10. Don’t be shy - This is America. We are some of the friendliest most generous people on the earth. For some reason many people have forgotten that these are the same people that wept along with us during national tragedies. I love my fellow Americans and I’d love to hear their story and share an in depth conversation with them. That conversation and friendship will never have a chance if we are both to shy or scared to say hello.

Say hello to someone today. You never know they might be trying to make new friends also.

Now that you know how to meet friends offline you can also learn how to meet friends online at Passionate Blogger.