When I was younger Wingnut ... some of my closest friends and confidantes were people twice my age. They were fascinating people due to their past experiences and their less than one-eyed viewpoints about life and life's little variances.

I'm now in the same category as some of those people twice my age that I used to hang around with and I have friends from all age groups and backgrounds. I even have jdubs who will stop and have a chat ... although it's more with the aim of being friendly to lure me back I think ...... after three decades of being footloose and fancy free, they're wasting their time of course but it's fun.

Awkward, shy or not ... it's never too late to meet new people and get to know them. As Libra beautifully pointed out ... I also highly recommend that you should get yourself out and about. Volunteer for a sporting club or social group ... help kids or adults learn how to read ... or sink your teeth into learning a new trick or trade. There'll be something out there with your name on it!

For the past nine years I've been a hands on volunteer at the four primary schools my boys have been in (we move with Gav's work) .... and get quite a kick out of helping kids with literacy. I did the Parents & Citizens Committee thing for five years and was even a School Council member. Late last year I saw an ad in the paper calling for volunteers to help out our Department of Attorney General's Victim Support and Child Witness Service. It's been a journey of learning in more ways than one and I love it. Some of the cases we sit in on are not nice and it's heartbreaking to seek kids already on a path of self-destruction ..... but my fellow volunteers and I are there to offer that one friendly face amongst a sea of professionals (and criminals) in the justice system. I backed off from most of my school volunteering this year but am still involved with various fundraising and other activities.

Not saying you should follow my lead ... but you've got a wealth of knowledge and experiences that others would love to share. It doesn't matter if you're opinionated about politics, religion or the art of cake making for that matter.    It's being opinionated and being able to share those opinions that can help create some truly awesome discussions. And from those discussions ... some truly awesome friendships too. As you've no doubt seen from my many posts in here .... I've been out from the religion for 30 years and STILL have a lot to say about it. It's not all negative and it doesn't rule my life ...... but it was a lifestyle that initially set my path in life. A path I willingly walked off when I was old enough to do so too

Be kinder to yourself mate. You have a lot to offer.

"Thanks to God .... for making me an Atheist!"
Ricky Gervais
Golden Globe Awards - 2011