I moved to California from Maryland right before the pandemic happened. My first two years were spent indoors, only leaving for essentials. I’ve spent the last two years going to events alone with the hopes of making friends.

Outside of the events, I’ve been on Bumble BFF trying to find genuine connections, but nothing has come about it just YET.

After these two years of actively trying on and off, I found myself ready to move somewhere else. Maybe I’d have a better chance in another place. I was giving up on finding community out here.

Until I joined the soultrysisters book club and started reading Platonic - How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make and Keep Friends by Marisa G. Franco, PhD. This book encouraged me to think about friendships in a new and exciting way, to gain understanding of my attachment style ( secure, but sometimes anxious), and to learn how to take initiative when it comes to making friends. “Assume people will like you.”

I’m feeling a lot more hopeful these days and I’m excited to share more insights once I finish this book and take time to process.

The last time I made a new friend was in college in 2016. When was the last time you made a new friend?