Losing touch with friends is easy to do, no matter how important they are to you or how often you used to see them,. It’s just something that happens. We grow up, grow apart, move away, and sometimes, we’re just busy. It can be hard to keep up with one another, and that’s okay. There’s no shame in it, and it certainly doesn’t make you a bad friend.
Everyone knows how easy it is to grow apart and lose touch with your friends, but everyone also knows how awkward and uncomfortable it can be to try to reconnect. Here, we’ll go over a few ways you can reconnect with your old friends in a way that will actually make you want to get together, and know what to expect when you do.
Be Open, Direct, and Honest
Sometimes it’s best to just come out and say it, and be as direct as possible— you don’t want your Facebook message to get lost in the sea of thinly veiled pyramid scheme pitches, disguising themselves as sincere attempts at reconnecting.
All you really need to say is: “Hey, I know it’s been a while, but would you like to get together sometime?” or even call them to express the sentiment.
In some cases, making more definite plans might be the way to go, like attending a show or concert with a set date or schedule. Maybe you and your old bestie just need to tune back into your high school days, your favorite music genres, and go (not too) wild the next time your favorite band is on tour and relive some of your glory days.
Don’t be Afraid to Track Them Down
Of course, most people use, or at least have social media, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the biggest reason you’ve lost touch with a good friend is that one or neither of you are an avid social media user, but don’t lose hope!
You can easily find people free without having to search high and low. Websites designed to search for people make it as easy as possible. In many cases, all you need are their first and last names. Of course, being able to include additional information will help you narrow down your search, It’s not going to make or break your search efforts, but it may take you a bit longer if you’re unable to provide other identifying information.
Respect What Has Changed
Of course, we’re all hoping your reunion will be everything you’re hoping for, but it is important to understand, respect, and acknowledge the changes you’ve both endured, the good and the bad.
Be careful not to get too caught up in “what could have been” when you finally meet up. People grow and change, and any variety of life experiences may have caused the person you remember and are expecting to see to have changed.
Getting back together with an old friend might be a bit awkward at first, which is to be expected, but there may be some underlying circumstances that have never been addressed, or brought to the other’s attention. With our abundant access to social media, you’ll most likely be aware of any major changes in their life, but there’s always a chance you’re not.
Even though we have unlimited access to the “behind the scenes” of each other’s lives, there are probably going to be a few things that have been left off Instagram or Facebook.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to your old friends; they’ll probably be glad to hear from you. So choose whichever form of communication you’re comfortable with, and tell them how you feel!
