My mid-forties are living up to the reputation of being when you go searching for the person you always were but never had time to be. I’m leaning into my authentic self by prioritizing things that resonate for me. That means seeking out new adventures and interesting people.

Recently I scrolled into a post by @eckadoo on Tik Tok saying how hard it was for adults to find friends in Minnesota. This post received an outpouring of responses that led to a scheduled in-person gathering for anyone wanting to connect. This is how I found myself strolling up to a pack of women at the Lake Harriet bandshell last Saturday. I was dressed for the weather with the obligatory warm beverage in hand. I estimate one hundred or so gathered. We introduced ourselves with name tags and hat compliments while fawning over the attending doggos.

Our fearless organizer, @eckadoo, introduced herself, then others took turns telling the group who they were and what brought them out in the cold that morning. Eventually, we broke into groups who got to know each other better. Groups turned into group chats as people began to depart. I wrapped up my encounter by taking a lovely walk around the lake with my new friend, @sunrays_water. In just over an hour we covered a few miles and our entire life history.

I am lucky to have some really great friends in my life, but I still value the energy of new connections. Like the stacks of books around my house, each person is a story I would love to hear. So, each day as I work my way through our family calendar and my work planner full of to-dos, I am watching for the next gathering. Bring it on @eckadoo.