Hey Friend! What Kind of Pinot are you?

I am fortunate to have a wonderful, diverse network of friends. As adults it can be difficult to forge new friendships. In 2022, I made a point of actively seeking friendships; male or female. As a female, and if you are one reading this, it probably won't surprise you to learn that the vast majority of these new friendships are all women. While we still seem to be inundated with social media and Facebook type of "friends", many emerged post Covid with a goal to make more friends, the type that you text and schedule actual meetups with. 
I started a bookclub and gained a new group of women that have the love of books in common. We all appreciate that our genre of books has expanded and look forward to our monthly, in-person book discussions. Individual friendships emerged as we learned more about each other. If I want to go wine tasting, I know who to call. If it's a trivia night, the text goes out to everyone including their spouses (we are creating friendships for our significant others, too!).
Through Meetup, I have a new group of friends for playing games, attending concerts, and going on hikes. I am also part of a cliquey friendship that identifies with the SATC women (but Portland style!).
Then there are the friendships that have been around for decades. We have a history based on growing up together, living in the same community or raising our children together. Or maybe all three criteria!
When I think about cross-pollinating these friendship groups, this is somewhat like pairing food and wine; not all are going to go well together and I could just ruin what are individually wonderful choices. But why wouldn't I want to introduce friends that I think are wonderful with other wonderful friends?? Well, a key component in introducing different friend groups is their ability to listen and be engaged. Even if someone is lacking self-confidence, if they are able to listen and show interest in the other, they will both gain something from the introduction. It may flourish  or it just may be a one time occasion. From past experiences, I have come to realize that some of my friends are like a wine that really is best enjoyed alone; just doesn't pair well with others. Fortunately, just like my wine preference, most of my friends seem to be a Pinot Noir. If you are familiar, you realize that some Pinots are light and ready to drink, some are more fruity, others are more spicy, and some will age better with time in your cellar. 
No, I do not keep my friends in a cellar but I do know that some just take a little longer to warm up. So if you have a friend who wants to introduce you to a new friend (or want to expand your own network), just listen and be engaged, ask them questions, share a little about yourself, and if there is a connection and mutual interest, you may have just found a treasure.