Last month, The Boston Globe published an article with a pretty shocking headline… at least at first glance. But chances are if you’re middle-aged, it fits you to a T. The headline read: “The biggest threat facing middle-aged men isn’t smoking or obesity. It’s loneliness.”

It’s not easy to admit you’ve shortchanged your friendships, but if you take a long, hard look at your life, you’ll see the truth.

Work and family take precedence as we age and maintaining friendships become more of an option than a necessity. The traveling, grabbing a beer after work, and reunion weekends fade away just gradually enough that we don’t realize it. It’s not too late to turn it around though.

As the award-winning journalist, Mary Schmich said, “Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.”

Thanks to Alpha Delta, you have many brothers who knew you when you were young, and a total of 897 brothers of all ages with whom you already share a common bond. Being a member of Chi Phi is a lifelong commitment, so take advantage of your membership. Come to an event, visit the house, check out headquarters or local alumni chapter events in your area, or use our online directory to look up the first brother that popped into your head as you’re reading this.

Get in touch. Start reconnecting. And let us help you do it! That’s what Alpha Delta Chapter is here for—to help you maintain the friendships that were built to last a lifetime.