friendship

Friendships. They are fun. They can be ever so testing. Sometimes the bonds are broken and sometimes they are fixed. At times, you outgrow them. At times, maybe they outgrow you. It's not always easy, friendships can be tough. You invest in them emotionally and show vulnerability. There's always a risk that trust could be broken.

Over my many, 30 years of living... I've had my fair share of friendships. Few have lasted through it all. It's sad to think about the friendships that have come and gone but I'm thankful for what each has taught me. I think as long as you grow from each relationship, each friendship, then you aren't losing everything. It's not easy losing friends but there are also times where it becomes too easy. Distance has played a part in my friendships. I know now who my true friends are and I love them all dearly. I know that I will have them for the rest of my life. They've stuck by my side through thick and thin, through some of my really horrible, rock bottom times. They've all helped shape who I've become today.

For my 30th birthday, my sister had the idea to have people write down on index cards, why they love me. It was such a neat idea and whenever I feel alone, I can look at those cards and know that I'm not. I'm surrounded by people who know me and love me for who I am, good and bad. Most of my closest friends don't live anywhere near me. Since moving to Washington, I made the decision to leave behind a handful of very important people. Even though there's this distance between us, I know that nothing has changed. Sure, we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like but it doesn't change our friendship. We still make the time to catch up and make sure all is well with each other.

I think we grow the most from the time we graduate high school until we're about 23 or so. Don't get me wrong, I know we continue to grow throughout life, but I think that's the most noticeable time. We make a lot of choices at that age. You get to choose our lifestyle now that you're out on your own. You make decisions that can affect the rest of your life. You have relationships that thrive and relationships that fail. You learn so much from your mistakes and given none of us are perfect, we learn on a daily basis. I know I sure do.

Friendships can stray and get lost amongst the busy lifestyle we live. We must slow down and make the time for those who are most important to us because you never know when your last chance with them could be. Don't take friendships for granted. I've done so and I've lost incredible friends because of it. I got too comfortable, I was self-centered. I've tried my best to mend those friendships but they're never quite the same.

So make sure you're taking the time out of your busy life to remind those you love that they are important to you. Even if it's just a quick hello, it could brighten their day just to hear from you. Keep that communication open so if you do have problems, or a rough patch, you can work through it together.