Hey guys, I've been thinking of reviving old friendships and it's something I’ve actually been contemplating for a while. I don't really have a social circle currently, and haven't had one for many years now (I'm 29 now). Having discussed this with my partner, I think reaching back out to people from the past feels like it might be the most natural way to reconnect socially.
I think the thing that trips me up sometimes is a weird mindset where I feel like I’m bothering people if I ask them to hang out, like they’re only saying yes because they feel obligated to. Because of this, I feel REALLY uncomfortable reaching out to people.
A recent example: I got invited to a friend’s wedding, and an old friend I haven’t spoken to in about four years reached out asking if I wanted to share accommodation with him and a few of his friends (who I don’t know). Instead of just taking it at face value, my brain immediately jumps to “he probably only asked me because they needed one more person to fill the room so they don’t have to pay for an empty bed.” This is where my mind goes first. But at the same time, why reach out now and not any other time during the 4 year period we weren’t in contact for? I don't know… I want to have friends again, but at the same time, I feel like I'm bothering them…