New friends in ramdom places - Missed chance to make a new friend

[DragonsFurry]

Has anyone randomly made a good friend like this or am I being daft?

Firstly, I don't have a large number of genuine friends nowadays. A few older, long term friends who are lovely but our lives are all very different now. One of my closest friends sadly died. I also tend to be a bit wary because someone I once considered a very good friend turned out to be a complete traitor, I think she was always secretly jealous of me - goodness knows why!

Anyway, I was with DD queueing at a theme park today when a lady roughly my age rocked up with her DD. We chatted in the queue about the rides, other theme parks etc and seemed to click. She reminded me a little bit of my dear friend who died.

After the ride, they seemed to be waiting by the exit (maybe to speak to us?) but at that point I was so fixated on getting to the loos I walked straight past and said something along the lines of "Enjoy the rest of your day". I am kicking myself now for being so dismissive and unfriendly. I should have stopped.

I randomly chat to a lot of people but think I do struggle to take friendships any futher, partly due to lack of confidence.

And if the lady who I was talking to reads this, PM me and lets meet up at Peppa Pig World 🤣

I'd love to hear your stories of new friends you've made in random places.

Hopeful bump

Aw. I’ve felt this kind of thing once or twice in life. I suppose you can learn from it and next time you get chatting with someone you click with, you could suggest a coffee?

I don’t have a story to share but I know the feeling you mean.

I’ve walked away from situations thinking people were potential friends but never quite knowing how to progress the situation without being incredibly awkward!

I’m sure you improved her day and that’s a nice thought in itself.

Yes this happened to me. I was walking in the park near me one autumn day, it was very windy and cold, but I do love my walk. A woman around my age, alone, walked past and commented that we must be crazy walking in that wind. We had a little chat then went our separate ways. She had such a kind face and she was so friendly, I felt that we could be friends. I haven't seen her since so maybe she was just visiting. Luckily I already have lovely friends but I do feel that I could have had another!

Everyone’s had those kinds of abortive one-offs, OP. Don’t beat yourself up. There’ll be others.

You’ve obviously got an open and friendly demeanour or she wouldn’t have spoken to you in the first place, which is really good for future meetings with random people.

I walked straight past and said something along the lines of "Enjoy the rest of your day". I am kicking myself now for being so dismissive and unfriendly

I think this was a really friendly thing to say! It’s all looking positive for meeting people.

I've had this loads. Always thought 'how lovely' but never took it any further. Think of it as a random, perfect moment of connection; but understand it as just of that moment, not something that could be replicated.
When I've had it with people and it develops into friendship, its because of the situation, ie at college, work etc. I think for a friendship to develop after these encounters in places like a theme park, a bus, the supermarket etc is much more unlikely.

Yep I think it was a random moment of connection, made more poignant because she reminded me of my friend who died - very similar way of speaking and humour.

I guess I also miss having a really good friend.

I really need to get over the fear of rejection and start making more effort with my friendships. I have been a bit of a crap friend to those I do have, possibly due to loss of confidence and keeping myself at arms length for fear of getting burnt.

I hope the universe puts you both in the same place again! I’m sorry about your friend - it’s a void that’s hard to fill.

Yes I think iys unlikely a friendship will develop from a random encounter. If you are near a shopping center you can always suggest a coffee and then judge by the reaction if the other wants to take things further. Often people will have their own plans for the day.

Ive had some lovely random encounters with other solo travellers when I suggested maybe meeting up later and going for a meal or drink. People travelling alone are often glad of a little company. Ive also been politely rejected by others who obviously had their own ideas.

I think realistically you need proximity to get a new friendship off the ground.

I met an amazing woman on a plane journey once. We talked the whole flight and I really really liked her. I didn’t have the guts to ask for her email or whatever. Afterwards I googled her ( some things she said made her quite easy to find) and emailed her. I got a polite response back but reading between the lines could see she didn’t want to keep in touch. I felt like such a fool. Sometimes it works to put yourself out there. Sometimes it doesn’t.

I’m the opposite, I collect these people. Somehow got two friends I met though selling on eBay 😂

If it makes you feel any better, OP, I can think of one time, about three years ago, when I fell into conversation about the film we’d just seen, with a woman coming out of the same film festival screening, and we really gelled and stood talking on a street corner for quite a while. Yet, having exchanged numbers, when we met for coffee a few weeks later, it just didn’t work at all.