When was the last time you did something for the first time?

If that sounds like a song lyric, well, it is. An inspired question from the country song For the First Time by Darius Rucker, this line always strikes a chord with me (no pun intended).

Life is full of new experiences and opportunities, but we have to be open to taking them. Many of us become stuck in a routine, doing the same things over and over. I often find myself wanting to branch out, try a new class or activity, only to find a reason not to commit or back out in the end. I rationalize it by saying I’m too tired, it’s not the right time, or letting something else (something routine) take its place.

For those of you that are the same way, it can be hard to break the cycle, but one of the easiest ways to go about it is by expanding your social circle. New friends bring new ideas and renewed motivation to get out and live life to the fullest.

Connect with people who want to explore their community, take road trips, visit museums, or check items off a bucket list. Figure out what you would like to do, what would make life more exciting for you, then find people who want the same. This is easier than you might expect through a platform called Amintro.

A social app designed exclusively for those fifty plus looking to make new friends, Amintro was developed following years of research and is based on input from experts in the field of sociology and mature adults. Free to join, members can create an online profile that reflects who they are as a friend and what they consider important characteristics in their friends, based on personal experiences, likes and dislikes.

This platform helps older adults create a community, both online and off, connecting them with people right in their own neighbourhood (possibly even within the same apartment or condominium) so that they can receive the social engagement they need in various ways.

So here it is, the perfect opportunity to try something for the first time, and let life become more interesting. Register on our website or download the app from Google Play or the App Store.

By Christine Tompa