Dear Chloe:

You are very welcome! You read like a person whose done a lot of healing work and who is as mentally healthy as one can be in this very troubled world of ours. Like you said, and I agree: “a big part of this is that the world is very hard right now for everyone“.

Like you suggested back in 2016, couples do not tend to socialize with single women, so that’s a factor that’s not dependent on who you are (other than on your status as a single or divorced woman). I’ll add to it that teenagers and young adults are very motivated to connect and socialize, but older adults- significantly less, as they are busy with careers and children. So, as far as friendships go, you have these two factors operating against you.

“is it possible for me to have more lifelong connections? And what steps can I take if I’m not sure where to go next?“- I believe that it is possible for you (it’d be terrible if I expressed otherwise.. wouldn’t it). As far as where to go next.. here’s an idea that occurred to me a few days ago (before you posted, not having you in mind): if I was to volunteer, I’d volunteer to be with elderly people, to connect with them so that they don’t feel isolated (as many do).

In your 2nd sentence, original post today, you wrote: “I want to build lifelong relationships, I don’t want to be elderly and completely alone“- neither do many people who are already elderly.. people with a lot to say, people who are often single (having been widowed) and no longer busy with raising children or with adult children going to college, getting married, etc.

What do you think?

anita