Senior activities with friends from old times can be a fun activity to plan and carry out. Especially following retirement, you have more time to think over your lives. And when that happens, you may want to meet up with friends from old times.
How Do We ‘Collect’ Old Friends?
The world keeps changing. People travel more, change their occupation more, and marry and divorce more. That causes a phenomenon; we come into contact with many people.
In addition to that, communication nowadays is much easier. With telephone, cellphone, email and messaging, it is easy to communicate. We can touch the lives of people we never even met.
We care about individuals whom we heard about through a common friend. Sometimes, a seed of friendship is planted. Then we move on, and we may not hear about them for a long time.
The phrase “like ships passing in the night” is used to refer to a meeting or friendship that was brief but intense. You connected with someone, you were part of each others’ lives, and then you both continued along your own life’s paths.
When a lasting impression is made from that brief friendship, you may want to meet up again.
What would you do if you would meet again? What would you say?
What about childhood friends, which common chords would still resonate between you?
The Magic of Childhood Friends
Childhood friends is a special category on its own.
It is an emotional image: two friends, who were friends from their early years, sitting together doing a senior activity.
The togetherness shared by innocent youngsters, often means they know each other better than any one else. True friendship, with a deep connection, can bridge years and changes in lifestyle.
There are ways and means to find childhood friends by using the Internet and asking friends that you have in common.
People tend to use Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. There are also professional ‘people tracers’ who could look up and find childhood friends for payment.
Meeting Up With Your Special Friends
When you make contact with a friend from old times here are some tips to break the ice gently:
- Remind your friend how you got to know each other.
- Keep your meeting simple. If it’s over the phone, you can keep it short and chat again another time.
- Mention which points about them, made you want to pick up the friendship.
- Sometimes you can’t pick up exactly where you left off. They may be hesitant at first. Give it a little time. Proceed at the pace of the friend.
- If you plan to meet up in person, choose a location that is easy for both of you to get to. Allow the option that each of you could bring a friend or family member with. This is may be a good idea, if you think it might get emotional.
- Instead of focusing on each other, which might be a little intense in the beginning, do a joint activity such as playing a game or talking about a hobby that you have in common.
Taking Friendships from the Past Into The Future
Take pictures of your meeting. You can share them with family and friends. If you have grandchildren, show them the value of making good friends in their youth.
Sometimes, meeting up with friends from old times can be looked upon as making news. Perhaps you truly thought that you might never see each other again. When you do meet up, it is a special opportunity where you can be thankful for the events that brought you together again.
Whichever activity you choose to do, enjoy planning and doing your senior activities with friends from old times!