“Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, and the other’s gold.” That’s the Girl Scout song my Brownie troop chanted at every meeting when I was a child in the 1950s. I loved that message and still do. Sometimes, my Brownie friends and I, clad in little brown dresses pinned with gold insignias and our heads topped by brown beanies, would compare notes on who was a gold friend and who was silver.

Making new friends at 70 worried me when I retired and moved out of my Westfield home and into a condo two years ago. I fretted about making new friends. Was I too old to form new friendships? Wouldn’t people already have lifelong best pals?

Studies show that establishing new friendships becomes more challenging once the natural meet-up contexts of the workplace or kids’ schools fall away. Yet, data on well-being emphasize the importance of friendship for health and happiness.

Here are some tips for finding new buddies at any age: 1. Join a gym. Take yoga or Healthy Bones classes.

2. Learn Spanish or take an art appreciation class.

3. Attend religious services. 4. Strike up conversations with friendly neighbors you know only from shared waves and smiles.

To my delight, Bobbi H. and Elaine K., two new condo neighbors, encircled me in an embrace of warmth at a rooftop “Wine Down Wednesday” gathering. They recommended dentists, doctors, shoe repair, and dry cleaners. Tips for best parks for walks and picnics, fun restaurants, and yummy bagels filled up a little notebook I tucked into my purse. Before I knew it, my new friends and I took morning walks, dined together, and swapped stories about our grown children and grandkids.

As 2024 approached, I reflected with gratitude on how fortunate I was to draw close to new people. Finding new friends as we age is a gift.

Elaine and Bobbi showed me how it’s done: Bobbi wisely said: “It’s not the yearly birthday gift that counts. It’s the tiny texts that say, ‘Have a wonderful weekend at the beach.’There really is an art to friendship. Making someone feel you really care may take time away from pleasing yourself, but it’s always worthwhile.”

“The ‘Art of Friendship’ starts with a blank canvas. You must choose your colors carefully. Your subject matters! Sometimes, it’s a call just to listen. Sometimes, it’s a walk together on a frigid, sunny morning. Sometimes, it’s a homemade card for no reason at all! It’s the accumulation of brush strokes that keeps your friendship safe, secure, and treasured!”

Elaine said thoughtfully, “Friendship is wonderful. You can confide your happiness and sadness to a friend. You can share time and feel comfortable together. You trust a friend to comfort you when you are lonely. You can pick up the phone and say, ‘I need some cheering up or company.’ A friend is always there for you.”

Please tell us how you create new friendships with The Westfield Leader and Union County HAWK by writing “Gratitude” in the subject line and emailing press@goleader.com