Sometimes, however, our friendships grow apart as we get older. Life gets complicated and we run out of time for staying in touch. Losing our friends over time is often a harsh fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be. You should try to hold on to your best friends, to the ones who know all your stories. You have shared so much together, you never want to miss out on that kind of relationship. These are the people who know the real you.
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
Truer words have never been spoken. Think about you and your closest friend. The two of you know all about each other, every embarrassing detail and every last weakness. And despite this, or maybe because of it, you still love each other. In fact, the two of you know each other so well that you have your own secret language. This is actually pretty common. As best friends, you have spent years building your relationship and it shows in your communication with each other. All of your inside jokes and references to the past can actually make it difficult for outsiders to understand you and participate in the conversation. Sharing a secret form of communication is what will make your friendship last through all of life’s changes.[1]
“Many people will walk in and out of your life but only true friends leave footprints in your heart.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
By the time you reach adulthood and become a woman, you’ll have all kinds of opportunities to meet new people. And a lot of those new people will become your friends. You’ll meet up for drinks after work, you’ll get together with other women your age for brunch, and you’ll share popcorn at the movies. But the brutal truth is, sharing a few experiences together does not make you best friends. These people will come and go throughout your adulthood, so don’t be so quick to call them your best friends. As Amy Chan says, “You don’t know someone until you’ve experienced enough of life’s ups and downs with them.”[2] Your best friends are the ones you’ve shared your life with. Those are the people that you want to stay around for the future.
“Friends are the family you choose.” ~ Jess C. Scott
You are stuck with your family. You don’t get to choose your parents or your siblings and, if you have them, you don’t get to choose your children. But you do get to choose your friends. Friendships are special relationships that can bring us happiness when we need it most, but as we approach adulthood, we tend to place more priority on our family and romantic partners, with our friendships taking a back burner. But don’t forget about those friends. Make sure they always have a special place in your heart and that you make some effort to keep in touch and show you care, no matter how crazy your schedule gets. Choosing to have a personal relationship with our friends is the very thing that makes friendship so flexible and unique.[3] This is why close friendships are able to withstand the test of time, even as they take less priority through adulthood. Your best friends are some of the most important relationships you’ll have in life. Never let go of the ones who know all your stories and have shared all of your favorite memories. You might lose touch now, but when you’re older, you’ll look to them for comfort and happiness once again. Featured photo credit: Unsplash via pexels.com
