packleader
Member
- Location
- Southern California
You have my sympathy and compassion for not having anyone to talk to. Would you permit me showing you how I make contact with people?
I don't know where you are living; but public libraries have often interesting programs, like book clubs, where you can meet and talk with people. The librarian may even know some hobby clubs, like knitting or bingo, that could be of interest to you to establish contact with people. Or you could even start a club yourself to find companions.
Churches are good places for socializing. I used to be a member of the Men's Ministry of the Crystal Cathedral (now Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove) that offered plenty of opportunities for meeting and talking with guys.
Doesn't your city or county have a parks & recreation department that offer programs for seniors? I am lucky because we have two close by:
(a) Programs | Parks, Recreation and Community Services or www.riversideca.gov/park_rec/programs-sports/seniors/programs
(b) Moreno Valley: Services for Seniors or www.moval.org/parks-comm-svc/senior-services.html
Both offer plenty of activities for seniors, like a Tai Chi class that I took recently and where I met new people.
And then we have the beautiful privately owned Janet Goeske Senior Center Janet Goeske Center or www.jgc4seniors.com with dozen of programs, and where you always can find someone with whom to talk over a cup of coffee.
Even our local community college offers classes, such as "Lifelong Learning for Seniors" Adult Learners or www.rcc.edu/student-support/adult-learners.html I took a "driver education" class to obtain an auto insurance discount. After a class, some people tend to walk to the cafeteria for some snacks and talk.
Of course, volunteer work gets you in touch with people, like at your local American Association of Retired Persons office (www.aarp.org) or at your local hospital.
With Internet searches it might be possible to re-establish contact with lost relatives and friends.
You even could start a neighborhood watch just to get to know your neighbors. Your local police or sheriff may give you some guidance.
Dogs are great socializers: I have 3 dogs and there are several dog parks in driving distance where it's easy to start a conversation with other dog owners.
I hope you still have a car and can drive around to find company. Otherwise, I myself would be at a loss of what to do. And it's quite difficult to reach out especially if you are shy, and it may even take some courage, but please try. Don't be discouraged when not everyone welcomes you immediately with open arms; sometimes it takes a while to establish contacts. I wish you success in finding some new friends.
As the late Rev. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove used to say, "If it's going to be, it's up to me." Rev. Schuller greatly influenced me with sayings like: God loves you, and so do I; today is the first day of the rest of my life; this is the day God has made for us. I was a member of his Men's Ministry. Whenever we pass by the Cathedral, I say a little prayer at his grave. My wife crafted urns for our cremated remains that will be staying forever at the Cathedral's cemetery for our children and grandchildren to visit. The Catholic Church bought the Dutch Reformed Crystal Cathedral, renamed it Christ Cathedral, and honors our pre-paid cremation niches.
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