Dear Lost Friends,

To those who have been out of my life for years, and those I’ve lost recently, I miss you.

Somewhere along the journey that we call life, something changed. It may have been that one of us moved away, or that something came between us, or maybe we simply faded out of each other's life.Whatever happened, just know that I will always look back at what we had fondly.

To those for whom the distance was too great, I don’t blame you.

Long distance relationships are always hard. No matter the time or distance, I will always be grateful for the memories we shared and the joy you put into my life. If you are reading this, maybe one day the distance won’t be so great, and we’ll be able to slip back into that natural companionship that we once had. And if that were to happen, I would welcome you back with open arms and a loving heart.

To those that gradually faded, sometimes I think back on our time together and wonder what went wrong.

Maybe if I had tried harder… or maybe if I had done something different… but in the end, the past is the past and what matters is that I have learned from it, that I have continued to use the experience grow as a person. I’ve realized that I need to value the time I have with those I care for. I have realized that in the end it was no one’s fault. And I have realized that, no matter what, I will always be here, cheering you on, and hoping that you achieve whatever it is that you dream of.

To those that I have lost through sh*tty circumstance, I am truly sorry.

I may not regret whatever event led up to our split but I will always regret losing you. I hope you can look back at what we had with love, but if not, I hope that one day you will come to the understanding that nothing that happened was out of ill intent or meant to make you feel as if I was dishonest or uncaring. Please know that I never lied about how much I cared about you. How much I still do. You are brave, beautiful, and valid.

To those that I chose to leave behind, I do not regret it.

While I will always value the good times, leaving you was something that I had to do. I hope that you have found happiness. I hope that you are healthy and that you have found people with whom you can share your life with. I am happy that I am finally in a place in which I can honestly tell you that I have healed from the hurt that you caused and I have no ill will toward you. We simply weren’t right for each other and as the saying goes, “‘tis is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” I might have left you in the past, but I will always remember the good times we had and the lessons you taught me.

To everyone who has left my life, no matter the circumstance, I have to take the time to thank you.

You have helped to shape me into the person I am today. You have taught me invaluable lessons about love, perseverance, strength, and friendship. I will always be on the sidelines wishing you happiness and success in life.

We may not be in one another’s lives any longer, but no matter what, keep your head up, stay safe, and stay strong.

With Love,

Amelia