"I'd love to do that."

"That looks great."

"We should definitely go."

Sound familiar?

Because there's loads of things to do once you're over 40. Restaurants, bars, gigs, holidays, days out, wellness, activities, new places to explore...

The problem isn't always finding something to do.

It's finding someone to do it with.

In this episode, Gem talks about why making friends and building a social life after 40 doesn't necessarily mean joining another club, taking up another hobby or filling your diary with organised activities.

Sometimes you don't want a new hobby.

You just want more life.

More people. More experiences. More reasons to get out of the house. More nights where you actually have something to look forward to.

We're talking about how friendships change as we get older, why we're all terrible at actually making plans, the fear of turning up somewhere when you don't know anyone, and why meeting new people doesn't have to mean replacing the friends you've already got.

Because you can love your existing friends and still want more people in your life.

You can be happy and still want more.

And you don't need to wait for a massive life change before you start doing things differently.

Sometimes you just need to stop waiting for somebody else to make the plan.

Think of one thing you've been saying:

"I'd love to do that."

But you haven't because you haven't got anyone to go with.

Book it.

Invite someone.

Or go anyway.

Because you never know who you're going to meet.

And you never know what can come from one yes.

If you're 40+ and based in South Manchester or Cheshire, find out more about the Next Chapter Society:

Next Chapter Society