Knowing someone for a long time doesn't measure the quality of friendship. From experience, I've had a friend for such a long time, and it really wasn't doing anything for me. It was a long overdue friendship that I don't even feel right referring to it as a friendship.

Recently, someone that I was "friends" with for around 15 years left my life. Without expecting it, I was given someone that I feel like I've known my whole life: my boyfriend. We were friends for three years prior to dating, which has been about seven months, and I am able to tell him anything without receiving judgment.

Our partnership is nothing but love and support, which is what every friendship should be. I can trust him with my soul.

My friends that I have made along the way show me what it's like to actually have people be genuinely happy for me. They encourage me when I'm afraid and root for me when I'm succeeding. That's how it's supposed to be.

There are people out there who you can immediately have a connection with. You'll feel like you've known them your whole life. It's the strangest phenomenon that I look at to be a gift.

That trust that I naturally developed with my boyfriend, and college friends, took me years to almost establish something similar to that friend I mentioned earlier. I believe that says a lot.

Just because you've been friends with someone for a long period of time doesn't necessarily make them a good friend, and it certainly wouldn't make a good excuse to keep them around, either. I think some people stick around those they've been around for a while because people love being comfortable around those that they've surrounded themselves with for the majority of their lives.

The idea of starting over and meeting others probably doesn't sound too enticing, but it might just be life-changing.

Another factor that one should keep in mind is the fact that people change, whether it's for the bad or good. Hopefully, they're evolving, but unfortunately, some stay behind and observe the people they once knew quite well change before their very eyes, creating jealousy. Some hate to see others do extraordinary things and succeed.

They are unable to break the barriers since they're so focused on the manifested competition.

Most times, those friends that we kind of just have around so that there isn't any confrontation or issues, aren't serving us anymore. They aren't doing anything for our growth or playing a part in our happiness. They're just sort of... there.

Hanging out with them becomes a dreaded chore since all they do is criticize, sometimes without even saying things directly. Their presence brings in a type of toxicity that can make you question what you're doing wrong. It's such an uneasy feeling when your true self is being withheld unintentionally.

It's perfectly okay to let those people go.

It'll do wonders once you release them from your life and let in YOUR people. Trust me, you will know when you have found your people. They will help you fulfill your purpose in life with a shoulder ready and a mouth that only spurs out words from a place of love.

You will know the difference between clear, honest intentions and actions that reveal a corrupted heart. You will know the difference when you are glowing with positivity and living a life in accordance with your true self. It's the most wonderful, freeing feeling to be around those who accept you for who you are and who you're becoming.

Quality over quantity, people.