The past two years have been anything but normal. The circumstances we have lived through have had an impact on many of my life choices, and have made me reevaluate and reorganize my priorities. One important thing that I have spent time thinking on, is relationships, specifically friends. So this holiday season, I've decided to put in some efforts to get in touch with a couple of long lost friends. How do you feel about giving yourself this special gift of reconnecting with old friends this holiday season?
Friendship looks a bit different these days, but it's still all about connecting and putting in the work it takes to foster that relationship. Looking for old friends may seem like a challenge, and finding them is probably much easier or harder than you think.
The easiest way to find an old friend is by using internet search engines like Google, social networking platforms like Facebook, school/college/university alumni websites, and other online resources. If you're not comfortable using the internet, see if a friend or family member can assist.
If the Internet search isn't fruitful, and if you can afford it, consider hiring a private investigator to can find a long-lost friend.
Here's a list of things you can do to help find a friend:
Make a list of important information about your friend. Things like birth date, home address, school, work place, graduation year etc.
If your friend used a shorter version of their first name, be sure to search using the short name. For example, Theodore might be listed as Theo
If you know your friend's spouse's or kids' names, try searching for them online
Also consider the fact that a female friend might have changed her last name after getting married
Use this list to gather further information on your friend using the internet
See if you can look through the local Yellow Pages directory
Sign up for your school/college/university alumni associations
Search publicly accessible government records
If possible, approach a religious leader at your friend's place of worship
If you are unable or unsuccessful in your efforts to get in touch with an old friend, give yourself the gift of a "new" friend! If you are successful in your search for a long lost friend, kudos to you! I hope you are able to spend some quality time together.
With this, I would like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year! May the new year bring us all good health and happiness.
As always, feel free to connect with me or leave a comment.
Nikita
Healthcare Consultant,
in4MED
The author of this blog post is a Physician with over 10 years of experience working in the healthcare system as a clinician, researcher and educator. She is passionate about healthcare for older adults and strives to be a resourceful inspiration to caregivers.
*No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.