I need friends :(

[Geezer]

Re: I need friends

@Siren

I feel like such a dork even typing this, but I’ve just been so depressed lately. All my life, I’ve felt out of place and it feels like I’ve never truly had any friends. I can’t relate to white people because my religion has some boundaries they don’t understand. And for some reason, I still feel out of place with brown people. My husband tries to help by introducing me to his friend’s wives, but they’re all newly imported from Pakistan and we seem to have nothing in common because I’ve grown up in North America. Half the time I don’t get their jokes or references and they don’t get mine. Makes it really awkward for us.
We moved around a lot when I was a kid and I think I just never learned how to make friends with people. I have had brief “friendships” where I would find something in common with a bunch of people, but I could just never make it last.
I work full time now and even though I have my social anxieties, I’m still a fairly normal functioning adult. I work well with others and talk to the people around me, but I just never want to see them outside of work. I don’t have any people I would consider more than a regular acquiantance, other than my husband and family. The people I used to hang out with in school were more “friends because of proximity” type thing, and we have since lost touch.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me; I can’t seem to connect with people and I fear it’s too late for me to learn how. It’s not that I’m a total introvert. I do enjoy being with people (even if I do need “me time” to relax afterwards). So my question is, how do “normal” people (20-30 years old) meet new people and make friends? More importantly, how do they maintain these friendships?

Just be natural and down to earth, don’t pressurize yourself on getting along with others and also don’t try to live up to others expectations.