Have your friendships changed

[cilla4progress]

since COVID?

I see almost no one, hear from no one.

Truly feeling isolated and alone.

[Mike Nelson]

1. Yes...

... no human contact isn't the same as social media or the phone. Facebook and Twitter are fine, but not a substitute for actually seeing people and having lunch.

[cilla4progress]

2. I wonder

How to get it back

[Mike Nelson]

4. I think...

... habits may change, especially for older friends. Some may find replacement behavior and not go back... we may have to work on getting back to "in person" stuff.

[bottomofthehill]

3. Sadly, yes.

[OriginalGeek]

5. most of my friendships are online

because I live far away from long-time real-life friends. We keep up on facebook and whatnot. My local friends are all people I work with so I see them every day anyway.


Covid hasn't changed us much but tRump has definitely strained some relationships.

[cilla4progress]

10. I found that work place relationships

really changed.

It used to be assumed that there you would find some of your closest friends - and groups..But now everyone seems so bent on their privacy, and has a big divide between work and social life.

It might be where I live.

[OriginalGeek]

18. Maybe

I live in Central Florida if that makes any difference lol. And I have been with this company for 21 years in July. There are people I stop and talk to every day, people I smile and nod at, people who have been to my house and I to theirs and 1 guy who volunteered to come dig out my septic tank pump so we could replace it. He showed up at my house while I was out doing something else and did the whole job before I got back. You gotta be a pretty good friend to dig up someone else's septic tank pump for beer and lunch.

[cilla4progress]

19. Wow -

true dat!

[cilla4progress]

6. I've always found that volunteering

Is a good way to find like minded souls, and to have a sense of purpose.

Maybe I'll watch for opportunities in the environmental area. Also Dem politics.

[ananda]

7. I've lost some friends, but things are looking up.

That's because I'm much closer to my siblings now
and family is really pulling together.

I also have two good bridge partners and a great
ex sister-in-law who is also my lawyer.

I am so blessed in so many ways.

[cilla4progress]

11. Indeed,

you are!

[abqtommy]

8. My friendships have always been in a state of flux, even before covid. Recently I

was discussisng this feeling of isolation with a long-time online friend and I reminded
them that this feeling was dominant among those of us with a history of mental illness
diagnosis and treatment and that it was one of those feelings we can't trust and must
push back on.

Even during covid I've gone out and about to take care of business and keep up my
usual practice of getting into conversations with people. This is very helpful for me and
the others too.

Nobody here at DU is alone. Short answer: get over it. Long answer: we'll help you!

Just for you, cilla4progress:

[cilla4progress]

12. Nice!

This is one of my FAVORITE places to discuss - especially politics, but also other stuff (like this)..

It's one important piece for sure!

[Sherman A1]

9. Somewhat

I am seeing some of my table top miniatures gaming community again after a year of not doing so and once again beginning to be able to return to my volunteer work at a Historic house in my community. My closest friend stays in contact daily either through texts, phone calls or the occasional in-person visit when we can arrange it.

[JuJuChen]

13. Yes, I'm one of those ones who basically see none of my friends anymore

work, home, work, home it's not becoming depressing, it's way past that and I'm 35. Sometimes I like the isolation and sometimes I wonder if alone is where I'm ending up.

[cilla4progress]

15. I hear you!

Is it because we've become a rat race society no one has the time for what's really important in life???

Such a struggle.

[Aristus]

14. ...

[cilla4progress]

16. When you think about it,

what IS friendship?

Been trying to figure that out for years.

[Aristus]

17. When you do figure it out,

let me know, will you?

A current TV show postulates that friendship isn't one big thing, but a million little things...

[cilla4progress]

20. I like that...

a million little things.

I'll chaw on that today.

Thanks for helping, friend.

[brooklynite]

21. If anything they've expanded...

My dinner group has been meeting online weekly, and since it isn't in person, we've had friends from California, Washington and Hungary participate.

[cilla4progress]

23. I tried the Zoom thing at the beginning of this (covid)

but it quickly fell flat.

Just did not really get much out of socializing online. Esp. since I'm online all day for work.

Glad it works for you!

[GoodRaisin]

22. Not from Covid. Trump changed some though. nt

[cilla4progress]

27. Definitely,

there's that ...

[MerryBlooms]

24. Now that we're all vaccinated, we're getting together again...

And it's been wonderful. My niece and her husband visited for three days, we had a blast. Our deck and yard is beautiful this year, and when company comes, we spend a lot of time outside before and after dinner- makes the no-mask-stress much less, I think. The biggest adjustment has been for our kitties, they are surprised to have folks coming and going again.

I hope things get better for you soon. Transition can be so difficult, and this is a big one for all of us.

[Tree Lady]

25. I am still pretty new in area 3 1/2 years

Was just starting to meet people when covid shut us down. So just stayed online and phone with my old friends this past 15 months.

Recently though a month ago I private messaged a lady in next door app who was talking about her bookclub. I asked her for advice on finding one here locally. She talked to her club and said she would meet me in person to see if I would fit club.

Felt funny to be interviewed for club but I met her and we clicked and she invited me hiking which we did with our dogs. I am going to first bookclub meeting this Sunday night outside on a deck.

It was funny how she asked me about being open minded. I live in a conservative town but this club sounds progressive so I feel like I won the friend lottery! I will find out Sunday.

[cilla4progress]

26. Awesome!

My kinda folks! And area, unfortunately.

I have a theory that living here in this conservative area - it's not only the politics, it's the open-mindedness (or lack) to new people, ideas, practices.

I feel like people here are closed-up compared to the progressive places I lived before.

If a guy walked down the street here in a kilt and a mohawk, it's all anyone would see about him!

Happy for you, though!