In my life, I've had friends come into my life and either stay or leave, and I can say that none of them was a mistake. We may have ended on a note that wasn't the best but they forced me to notice different parts of myself that I wouldn't have known of before I met them.
I'm the kind of person that never forgets a face, and I never forget why we became friends. One thing I've learned is that people change. Everyone moves on, whether it's with or without you. People say friendships come and go, and there will always be that next person to fill that void and I believe on some levels they are right. However, some friendships are hard to get again. You can't just replace the person that was your other half, you can't just replace the person that knew all your secrets. Whether you're face to face or miles apart, some friends you can never replace.
What I've come to realize is that you can't live your life with your feelings bottled up and closed off from the world. Living a life in the shadows isn't living at all, and so in realizing this, I've discovered my own meaning of friendship. To me, friendship isn't someone you talk to occasionally or see on the street and nod, then walk away. Friendship is about having someone you can tell your deepest darkest secrets or talk with till the early hours of the morning when the sane people are already in bed. It's about the person that will be there for you through thick and thin.
I think having friends both IRL and URL is a healthy balance. Both can teach you many things. Having URL can sometimes be easier. You learn to trust in yourself and you gain more confidence because you don't fear being judged and they grow to like you for your personality rather than your looks. With IRL friends, you learn to be open and outgoing, you gain valuable people that could potentially stay with you forever.
My many friendships have taught me so many things. They've taught me to be open, and outgoing. To go out more and to not care what other people think. They've taught me what it's like to care for someone more than I care for myself. To me, friendship means everything. Friends help you in so many ways, sometimes you don't realize it. I don't regret any of the friends I've made, or any of the people I've met. In their own way, they all taught me things about myself and others.
I think the point to be made within this article, is to not take anyone for granted. In the moment, enjoy it while you can. You may think that they'll be there forever, but they won't. Eventually everyone has to move on and live their life, but for now. Do the stupid things with them, be reckless, enjoy life, live, laugh, love. Don't live your life in regret of the things you could've done. Live life in the things you probably shouldn't have done, it's a lot more fun.
