I recently read about a new trend: summer camps for adults who want to make new friends. On the one hand, it sounds funny—grown women and men signing up for bunk beds and campfires. But on the other hand, it makes perfect sense. Making and keeping friends as an adult is complicated, and sometimes we need a little help.
Our friendships evolve as our lives do. In our 20s and 30s, the paths start to diverge: some of us are climbing career ladders, some are starting families, some are still figuring it all out. That alone can create distance.
Marriage shifts things again. Suddenly, there’s a pull toward “couple friends”—those whose lives look like ours. And when children enter the picture, friendships often revolve around family life: playdates, school activities, sports teams, and the other parents we see every week on the sidelines.
But what happens when the kids are grown? When careers shift, retirement begins, or life slows down? This is what I think of as the “third act” of friendships. Sometimes this stage brings friends closer than ever—suddenly there’s time for long lunches, trips together, or simply lingering over coffee. But sometimes it creates distance. Without the common thread of children or work, it can feel like the glue that once held a friendship together has dissolved.
And that can be painful. It’s hard to watch relationships fade, especially ones that once defined entire seasons of life. It can take years to accept that a friendship has changed, or even ended.
But here’s the truth: it’s okay. It’s okay to treasure old friends and hold them close. It’s also okay to let go of relationships that no longer feel aligned.
The beauty of adulthood is that it doesn’t come with an expiration date on connection. You are never too old to make new friends. In fact, some of the deepest, most joyful friendships are born later in life.
I’ve seen it happen in so many ways:
- A woman who joined a knitting circle and found sisters she never knew she needed.
- A man who discovered new friends through charity work.
- Friends who met at a book club, a tennis court, or a pickleball league. (Me!)
The specific activity matters less than the willingness to show up and try something new. Shared joy creates its own bond.
So if you’re in a season where your “friend group” feels like it’s drifting—or you feel like you’re the one drifting—know this: you’re not alone. It happens at every stage of life. But there are so many opportunities, every day, to open yourself to connection.
You could start with a hobby. Say yes to something that is a little out of your comfort zone. Perhaps you start with a conversation.
And sometimes, it only takes one person. One new friend to brighten your world. One new friend to walk alongside you. And remember: you might be that person for someone else, too.
Happy Wednesday!
Jackie
P.S. Feel free to share this with a friend who might need a reminder that they are not alone… and you are thinking of them. 🙂
