To overcome loneliness, meeting people and making contact are necessary steps that we need to take. However, it is important to note that contact in and of themselves just aren't sufficient. One must meet the right person in the right way. Having said that, contacts with other people are still a required action. If you believe that a large part of your loneliness problem could be solved by meeting the right person or persons, here are some suggestions to help you out.

1. Become a regular visitor to places that are likely to attract persons with values and interests similar to yours. Places of common interest can include galleries, museums, libraries, music stores and antique stores.

2. Join a club. Clubs are automatic magnets for people with similar values and interests. Toastmasters clubs, line dancing clubs, Yoga clubs and writer's clubs are all examples of clubs where you can easily meet and develop close relationship with people.

3. Take a class. Classes are offered to adults by community colleges, extension divisions of universities, city recreational departments, and so forth. Evening classes in particular are a great way to meet people.

4. Become active in your community and volunteer yourself in charitable organizations. Not only are these activities constructive in nature, they are also excellent ways to get out into the world and meet people.

5. If you have no tendency to abuse alcohol, become a regular visitor to a local bar or pub. At the bar, people can easily mix around and get to know each other. However, if you are likely to abuse alcohol, you need to stay away from bars.

6. Make yourself available for any social events that you are invited. Wedding, birthday party, high school reunion...etc are all excellent places to get to know people, new and old alike.

7. Subscribe to an Online Service. Popular online services include Yahoo Personals, Match.com, FriendFinder and Perfectmatch. However, do practice common sense and take safety precautions especially when dealing with strangers online you have never met before.

In order to meet people you must reach out, you must become an active agent. You can't just be passive and expect people to find you. You must move toward them. Yes, some will draw away or display a lack of interest. But, on the whole, you will find that people are pleased when you take the first step. It takes the burden of initiating contact off of them, and they need only respond if they are interested. And, more often than not, they are.