👯‍♀️ 10 Ways to Make New Friends/Didis in the Open Nest Era (Without Being Weird)

When my kids went off to college, I gave them the same pep talk every mom gives:

👉 “Be brave, smile at people, compliment someone on their bag or their hair, sit with someone new in the dining hall — you never know who’s going to become your best friend.”

Now here I am, in my open nest era, realizing I need to take my own advice. Because the truth is: it’s never too late to make new friends — sometimes, it just takes a little courage and a little humor.

My Example: How I Met Kimber

I met Kimber at… a funeral. (Yes, a funeral.) She was hilarious, and the four of us — me, my husband, Kimber, and her husband — may have been chatting a little too raucously for the occasion, but we got along swimmingly.

The next day, she texted me: “Let’s be friends. I know I sound like a school girl.”

And you know what? She made it so easy to say yes. We still haven’t seen each other since that night, but I felt giddy, wanted, and seen. Proof that connection doesn’t require the “perfect setting.” It can start anywhere — even at a funeral.

10 Ways to Make New Friends (Didis) Without Being Weird

1. Take Your Own Advice

   Remember the pep talk you gave your kids at college drop-off? Yeah. Use it on yourself.

2. Lead With a Compliment

   “Love your bag / hair / earrings.” This works at 18 and it works at 58.

3. Sit at the Table

   In college: the cafeteria. In midlife: book club, wine tasting, or the pickleball sidelines. Pull up a chair.

4. Turn Left if You Need To

   Wrong vibe? Wrong group? Take a left turn. You’re not stuck.

5. Join Something That Actually Interests You

   Not what you should join. What you want to. A soup swap, art class, or hiking group will do.

6. Risk the Awkward “Friend Flirt”

   Yes, it feels cheesy to say: “Want to hang out again?” But that’s how it starts.

7. Don’t Ghost New Friends

   If someone texts you, reply. If you liked them, say so. This isn’t middle school anymore.

8. Use the Plus-One Trick

   Already going somewhere? Invite the new maybe-Didi along. Shared fun is bonding glue.

9. Follow Up Like a Grown-Up

   The magic isn’t the hello — it’s the “next.” Suggest a repeat.

10. Believe Your People Are Out There

    Whether you have a huge circle or feel like you’re starting from scratch, remember: there are 8 billion people on this planet. Your tribe exists.

Final Thought (with Receipts)

As Brené Brown says, “Connection is why we’re here; it gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”

And Maya Angelou reminded us, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Kimber made me (and my husband!) feel wanted and seen — and that’s what friendship at this stage is all about. Whether you meet at a retreat, a coffee shop, or yes, even a funeral, don’t be afraid to reach out. Your next Didi might be waiting for you to just say hello.

At Didi Retreats, we’ve created a space where those hellos turn into laughter, connection, and sisterhood. Because open nesting doesn’t mean being empty — it means being ready

For more information go to www.didiretreats.com

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