We have all grown apart from friends and reconnected years later, but that's not what I am talking about. I am talking about the friend that you had to let go in order to grow. The one that was your friend for years and is now suddenly a stranger.

Life is pretty hectic as it is and as we grow older we start to let go of unnecessary bullshit, stuff that no longer is good for you like: drama, friends who don't have your best interest at heart, the judging of others, people who pretend to mean well but overall aren't. It's something that I have dealt with all my life, especially in high school and my first few years of college. But when you open your eyes and realize that some people don't show you all the qualities that true friends show you, it's OK to drop them with no explanation. Life moves fast and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.

Sure there are hurtful words exchanged between friends, but when that continues more and more and you no longer have the time or energy to put up with friends who no longer mean well then its time to learn your lesson and move on. Sometimes we have people who walk into our lives for only a temporarily time, sometimes that period of time last for years or only a couple of months. Either way, by the time that friend leaves we learn something valuable, something we can take away from that friendship and put it towards good use with friends you already have or friends that you will meet further down your life. I've learned that I need and love low maintenance friends, the kind of friends that you don't need to talk to every day or every month and still pick back up where you left off.

Friends should support you, be there for you, not judge you, help you, give you advice you don't want to hear, be loyal to you, be someone you can trust, and have your overall well being at heart. It can be hard to let go of friends that have been in your life for so long or making your life memorable, but as we change, we may also change who we choose to hang out with and spend our time with. It's OK to change who you wish to be around.

This is your life and no one has a say on how you spend your time or who you spend that time with, except you. You are in control and it's your choice to do whatever you please to make your life more enjoyable, better, or easier. If one judges you for who you spend your time with then drop them, it's not their decision and you don't need to explain why you choose who you hang out with. The people you choose to hang out with should be the ones that make you your happiest, the ones that makes you laugh often and forget all the worries, not create more.

No matter where life takes you, be sure you have the friends that you want, the ones that bring out the best in you, and you are being the friend that brings out the best in others. Life is crazy and we need to be the best we can be and have the friends that are the best for you.

Thank you to all of the friends that have been by my side when I needed you all the most, the ones that have told me what I didn't want to hear, the ones who've helped me, supported me, pushed me to my limits, bring out the best in me, make me laugh uncontrollably, love me for who I am and thank you for allowing me to be the same to all of you.