Advice I’ve only barely taken myself, but see if your city has an Insight Center or other group like that. Mine does a combination of traditional meditation and outings to botanical gardens and the like (did one of those in the summer and really enjoyed it). Shocked, people who are into meditation are very kind and you’ll likely make connections (some centers even often affinity group meetings). Lol, typed after deleting a whole thing about running groups after re-reading your post (most of the night ones are mostly drinking, so super beginner friendly if you did want to give that a go ever, always make friends in those spaces).
Mar 7, 2024
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I love hearing people talk about their lives and what they are figuring out. I live in the South now, and I already talk way too much in spirals even for the East Coast, so I have to drop a real anchor or else I may miss some important things that people slowly give away as they talk here.
In moving to a new place or having fewer friends I get really overwhelmed without noticing it when my head and all my thoughts are the only strings of questioning that go past pleasantries and small talk. This is the main danger I believe of going somewhere where you only really know yourself well, and most others are the upmost form of stranger. I never really need to unload my thoughts as much as I'd just like to hear about the inside life of someone else, thats company. Going to NA/AA meetings is one of the best ways to spend time listening to others, I also go to a Buddhist meditation group and Church where I can listen and sit next to people, and the best part is you can never be part of the pass/fail system of a relationship with these groups! A very literal "meeting," you show up, listen, and get to know someone for a moment, but you never have to answer anyone! You just be with people, and after you fold up the chairs and go on! I think that listening with nothing before or after is awesome.
Mar 7, 2025
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I made some great friends in yoga class that I’m still friends with 7 years later!
My friend does early AM ocean swimming at pier 26 in Santa Monica and has made a bunch of friends that way.
If you skateboard or want to learn to, Girl Swrl is a cool group of women (mostly like 21–40ish) that do group skates and events around Santa Monica and Venice. It is very fun and I def recommend it!
There are lots of workshops related to plant education and natural dying around. Living Earth has a nature walk usually in Griffith Park monthly (as well as amazing music events), it’s a small group and I met cool people the time I went. Theodore Payne Foundation has workshops all the time about CA native plants. Pascal Baudar leads educational nature walks in small groups particularly about ethical foraging and edible invasive species in small groups. Tinctoria hosts plant dying workshops, as do other folks in LA.
My friend met her husband at a pottery studio (Bitter Root was the one) so maybe friends can be found there as well!
Your instinct to join a church is not a bad call honestly, I have made a bunch of friends since joining a synagogue a few years ago, and I don’t practice as religiously anymore but they’re still my friends.
Aug 21, 2024
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I'm in the same boat, in my 20s and just moved to a new place. I was looking on line for drawing groups and I found a figure drawing workshop run by an artist in her home studio. I'm usually a really shy person, but I had a fantastic time because I was surrounded by people who were similar enough to me that we showed up to this workshop.
Figure drawing might not be your thing, but I'm certain there's a group doing a hobby that you like. Try one out and if you don't click with the people try another one.
Sep 10, 2024
Top Recs from @tortitude
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We know what’s for dinner this week
Feb 1, 2025
Spiky boi climbing trees and eating wood and chomping on snow, marry me
Feb 23, 2025
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My favorite way to spend vacation time in a different city.
Mar 20, 2024