I vowed not to be lonely when I moved to a small town and got better at making friends. At 40, I haven't stopped growing my circle.

The author frequently goes on hikes with new friends.

Courtesy of Melissa Noble

• I'm 40, and I'll never stop making new friends.
• I have friends of all ages and with different interests, and I cherish them all.
• I've realized that authenticity is the key to forming genuine relationships.

At 40, I have a beautiful circle of friends who range in age from their early 30s to 97, and I don't feel like I'll ever be done making new connections.

Meeting new people...