Page 45 - Vision Manual

 Health or Exercise clubs – Some insurance programs offer discounted or free memberships, and these places often have classes or activity groups.
 Parks
 Museums – Many museums offer free days several times a month, and
often they offer special activities for low or no cost
 Concerts
 Special Interest Groups- Meetup.com is a resource that can help you to find people who might share interests and plan activities.
 Bookstores
 Coffee shops
 Volunteer programs
 Hobby/game stores
Questions: Where do you go that might allow for some social interaction? Where have you met the supportive people in your life? Which of the above locations interest you?
Starting a relationship
Starting a new relationship can be challenging, especially if you haven’t been around people much or haven’t started a new friendship in a while. In order to start a relationship, the first step is to start a conversation. Conversations are helpful because they allow you to get to know someone or allow that person to get to know you. Starting and maintaining enjoying conversations can be trickier than it seems, because it requires a combination of different skills. These skills involve choosing people who are receptive to conversations, knowing what to talk about, and showing interest in the other person. Below are some specific tips that can help you with the art of the conversation.
 Choose someone who isn’t occupied.
Choose someone who isn’t obviously occupied. If the person is in the middle of doing something, they may not want to stop what they are doing in order to talk. Introduce yourself and ask if they want to chat.
 Find a group that is open to newcomers.
In some settings, like a drop-in center, book club, party, or other social location it can be hard to find someone who isn’t occupied, but might be easier to find groups of people who are talking to each other, and open to others joining in the conversation. Some clues that tell you whether or not they are open to others joining is if the group is arranged with open seats, or in a broader way where you observe people come and go, if the setting is one that encourages group discussions (like a drop-in, or class, or church fellowship), and if the people are inviting others in. Always make sure to ask
45 | P a g e