I'm sitting in my room on a Friday night, not really caring about what's going on when I get a text.

"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" You say. "So-and-so and I are going to such-and-such a place. Do you want to come?"

I excitedly reply that I would, feeling happy that I was invited out. Until the next text comes.

"Can you drive?"

And then the reality sinks in. You didn't invite me because you wanted me there; you invited me because I have a car.

This wasn't a particular event that had happened, but more of an example of the type of things that happened once I finally realized that some of the "friends" in my life only stuck around because I was useful. You'd only hit me up when you were lonely or because I could provide rides or money or whatever else, but unless it was for your benefit, you didn't want or need me around.

I used to pride myself in the number of friends I had. Multiple friends meant multiple people liked me, and that made me feel great about myself. It wasn't until I started loving myself for other reasons that I started to see the flaws in some of these friendships. I began to realize I was spreading myself too thin trying to be everything to everybody and was left feeling stressed out and, worst of all, completely used. It was then the cliché I'd heard many times before actually started to make sense.

Quality over quantity.

For most of you, it was easy to cut you out. Whenever you asked for anything, I didn't give in and eventually you stopped talking to me completely. At first, it was really painful trying to accept that you didn't actually appreciate me, just what I could provide for you. For others, you didn't give up as easily. You found ways to bring me back around until I found myself giving in to you, again and again. I have to admire your determination, because you had me fooled for a long time.

I also feel a little guilty for cutting you out so suddenly, because I can also admit there have been quite a few people I've stumbled across in my life that I only hit up when I needed a favor. Usually it was to drag them around someplace I didn't want to go alone. I've gotten better about it, and I've definitely gotten better at only asking people whose company I will actually enjoy, not whom I know will just agree.

I'm still working on eliminating toxic people from my life. And it's not too late for you to be a part of my life and actually be a good friend, if that's something you'd consider.I like to think of myself as loyal and forgiving, and although these traits can definitely be a fault on their own because I find myself giving people more chances than they deserve, I also think it's part of what makes me the wonderful friend I can be.

So, to the "friends" that only care about what I can offer rather than who I am, I'm onto you. And I'm not going to let you drag me around forever. I refuse to spread myself too thin any longer.