Newsletter: Tips to Improve Your Social Life!

Tips to add spice to your social life…

I get really lonely when I get sick. Even though I have a lot of friends, I still miss the company that comes with belonging to a social group. This happens because I work on my own. I think a lot about ways to get myself out in public and a part of a group. Here are some suggestions:

Toastmasters. Wow, what a great group of people. Toastmasters is a worldwide speaking organization. I was in a group for two years and still have friendships with the people I met years ago. If you’re thinking, OMG, I can’t speak in public! Well, that is what it’s all about. It makes you able to speak in public! It’s also a great way to learn how to run an executive style meeting and become a leader in the community.

http://www.toastmasters.org/

Boys and Girls Clubs- what a great place to volunteer! That is certainly a group!

http://www.bgca.org/clubs/

Study a foreign language. Here in Portland, Oregon you can study a language and then find a few places in town where you can actually go have a glass of wine and practice!

Join a sports team. I would do this in two seconds if I didn’t have a bum shoulder!

Go to an evening community education class- or teach one! I can’t believe how many friends I made the last time I taught a writing class.

And if you just like to go out and have fun, I suggest www.meetin.org

Find a place you like to hang out and become a regular.

My college had an alumni association meeting in Seattle and I missed it. Duh!

My high school crown from Hawaii gets together here in Portland.  I just have to find them. Duh!

Put an ad on Craigslist and start your own group.

There is a group here called Love Tribe. Wow. It’s huge and people love it. Another community is the Estatic Dance Community. This is very much the Burning Man crowd- but whatever floats your boat!

It’s hard to do this stuff when you’re depressed, which is why it’s good to set it up when you’re well. I have a few rules when I start with a new group. I make a commitment to go to meetings which means I still go even when I’m depressed. I always feel better after the meeting!

Have fun!

Julie

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