Over Christmas break, I’ve been able to spend a lot of time reconnecting with the people from my hometown. A lot of my friends from my hometown are people I’ve been with since my childhood. We’ve grown up together and been able to form these incredibly special bonds. Just recently I’ve realized how truly special those bonds are.

We all have those friends we’ve grown up with since childhood. We should recognize how valuable and beneficial those relationships are, and hold on to them.

First of all, these friends are ones that we have experienced so much with. They were all there for every good, bad, and awkward stage of my life I’ve been through. And, I’ve been there for all the stages of their life too. No matter how uncomfortable our pre-teen years were, we stuck together.

No matter how angsty or difficult our teenage years were, we never left each other’s side. Our childhood friends are one’s that have seen us at our worst and have still chosen to remain in our lives. They truly love you unconditionally.

Some of my childhood friends are also some of my biggest supporters. They’ve helped me through the ups and downs of my life. Every bad thing that has happened to me or my family they were always there for me. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was in high school, those friends who had grown up with me were there for me if me or my family ever needed anything. And, it was like that with any difficult situation that came my way. We are all there to support and help each other through the rough times in one another’s lives.

This strong support system also translated into a group of friends building one another up as life decisions started to be made. As we get older and had to start making decisions, we were all there and ready to support one another. They are the people I went to for advice when I was first starting to try and figure out my life, and I find that I can always go back to them for life advice. We all just want to see each other follow our dreams and get the most out of life, so we are always there ready to support and boost one another on.

It’s also amazing that no matter how long we are apart from one another we seem to be able to pick up right where we left off. We’ve become so close because we grew up together, that we’ve created friendships that I don’t think will ever fully fall apart. That moment of instantly reconnecting with an old, childhood friend is an amazing and refreshing feeling. Carrying on a conversation seems to come so easily to us when it’s with someone who has been there from the beginning.

Being able to spend so much time with my childhood friends lately has reminded me of how wonderful and irreplaceable those friendships are. They are the friends I can be my truest self with and the friends I can always rely on. My childhood friends mean so much to me and I will continue to put in the time and effort to grow those friendships.

Make sure to make time for those special childhood friends whenever you get the chance. There is no relationship that will ever compare to the one that has been built up since the beginning. It’s a relationship that has withstood so much difficulty, but has and will continue to last. Let them know the amazing impact they’ve had on your life over the years and realize how much their influence in your life has led you to be the person you are today.