So...we've all been there before; we've had one really great friend who seemed like they were going to be in your life forever. Then suddenly, something goes wrong and worse comes to worse, you push them away almost indefinitely. You think you've done the grown up thing by letting the situation die out and you really don't want to seem at fault for your falling out, but the truth is you are at fault; both you and your friend. Speaking from first-hand experience, having a real good friend in your early college years is bound to happen, but rare when that person seems to be your friendly soulmate. So after some deep thought, I thought of three easy steps to rebuilding the bridge that you intentionally broke:
1. Apologize.
Again, even if you don't feel at fault for your friendship ending it's important to apologize. An apology is a baby step in the direction of rebuilding a friendship.
2. Meet face to face and talk it out.
As hard as it sounds, it's important to meet face to face instead of trying to hash it out over text. You and your friend will be able to really understand how each other feels without confusion. Also, if you try to fix a problem over text, it's impersonal and lacks authenticity.
3. Stay Connected.
Don't just apologize and think that everything is fixed. Make an effort to be a part of their life again. If they're not willing to accept you back that easily, it's okay! Give it time! You may not know how truly hurt they were by losing you as a friend. Ask them to coffee, or have a study date. My friend and I chose to get late night breakfast (one of our old traditions) and we haven't looked back since!
Great friends are hard to find, and building personal relationships in your early 20s is weird. But it's worth it.
