BlueRose
You've gotten some great responses! As one who is shy and introverted, I can truly sympathize with you. It's hard enough to make and keep friends as is these days but it's even harder when you're shy. You don't say what type of place you live in--rural, semi-rural, suburban, city--because it is even harder when you are far removed from any activities that are of interest to you. If you live in a city, take advantage of what it has to offer. Any interesting talks, lectures, classes? Take the time to go. While you may not make any lasting friendships, you may at least make some acquaintances that share a common interest. I don't suggest this lightly--I've been there done that. When my daughter was born, I longed for contact with other mothers so I signed up for an adult ed course that was offered by the county. This was a class for mothers and their babies where the instructor discussed babies' stages of development. My shyness almost kept me from signing up but in the end I'm glad I overcame it. While I didn't make any lasting friendships, it was still nice to get out and talk to other mothers and compare stories. Also, it was nice to be able to ask the instructor questions. I ended up taking 4 more classes and I was fortunate that all were easy for me to get to. So--if you are in the city, take advantage of what it has to offer. If not, is there any way you can move to one? Nowadays, I live in an area where one needs a car to get anywhere which can feel isolated since any interesting activity usually involves a long drive often during rush hour. I long to live in the city once again! Please don't give up. If you have to push yourself to make some changes, IMO, it will be well worth it!