Is Making Friends Harder These Days?

March 1, 2011 — -- A woman writes that she seems to have lost the knack for making friends and is feeling isolated in the world. After reading about her lack of friends, I began to wonder. Might the growing advancement in technology be affecting the way we interrelate and form relationships? If we were to look closely, it's not difficult to imagine people feeling less connected to the world, even those of us who do embrace technology.

Numerous letters have come in from women saying they are having a difficult time making and or keeping friends. People used to rely on one another more when they were out in the world, didn't they? They would ask for directions, start up casual conversation, speak freely to random strangers...that was the norm. And in turn, they felt a sense of connection, and the possibility of getting to know someone. All of us seemed a bit more connected out in the world a decade ago than we do now. We spoke up in lines, looked people in the eye, and carried on conversations. Good, bad or indifferent, it's true.

Whether we realize it or not, it appears some of the standard life behavior we've known for decades has begun to fade. A sense of community, you know, the comfort and familiarity of the life around us feels less, as we create a more insular kind of life. It's standard operating procedure these days to be able to shop, chat with friends on FaceBook, watch a movie, peruse a bookstore, buy a book, read it, order meals, …all from the comfort of our own home, where some of us are alone.

What can one do to nurture and find friendship in today's ever-changing world? First, I'm going to say if indeed you are feeling less adept at making friends, and keeping them, you are not alone. There are hundreds of people writing and claiming the exact same situation.

In fact, another woman who wrote in explained that after a long bout of denial she was ready to be honest and ask for help. She finds herself incapable of making and maintaining friendships, and is lonely and feeling depressed. She signed her letter, "Miss Interpreted". Another woman, same predicament, signed, "I guess I talk too much." And another: "No one's friend."