"When someone over 65 pulls back from people they've been close to for years, it's easy to write it off. They're tired. They're getting antisocial. Maybe they just don't care anymore. But that's not what's really happening. There's something more complicated going on under the surface, and most of us miss it completely."
"Here's what nobody tells you about friendships after 65: they take work. Real work. And sometimes that work feels impossible."
"Psychologists point out that 'psychologists have several theories about why adult friendships break down so slowly.' It's not a sudden break. It's this gradual pulling away that happens when the effort starts feeling too heavy."
"The weight of keeping up gets heavier. I've watched this happen with too many guys my age. Hell, I've done it myself."
Friendships among older men often deteriorate due to the increasing difficulty of maintaining connections after retirement. Many assume that withdrawal is due to tiredness or disinterest, but deeper issues are often at play. The transition into retirement can lead to identity crises, making social interactions feel daunting. Efforts to stay in touch can become overwhelming, especially when friends move away. Societal norms discourage emotional expression, further complicating the maintenance of these relationships.
Read at Silicon Canals
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