What's it like to have a friendship you never thought would end–end? Heart wrenching. When I think about all the best friends I've had throughout my life, and how all of those friendships ended, I see a pattern.
My best friend changed, I stayed the same, and we eventually grew apart. Maybe this sounds familiar to you. For the passive-aggressives out there, isn't it easier to just give up on a friendship than to continue fighting for a lost cause? This is quite the pessimistic way to deal with failing friendships, but many times giving up on a friendship can save you heartache in the long run. It's vital to remember that you can't change people.
For starters, it's true for everyone that your friends will continue to come and go. I believe that God puts particular people in your life at a given time to help you through whatever you're currently facing. Unfortunately, friends often have an expiration date. Not to say that some friends truly are forever, but friends are often temporary.
We meet people at one stage of our lives and then get upset when they no longer fit into the next stage. As we grow as individuals, it is important to leave the "baggage friends" behind. "Baggage friends" are the people who bring out the worst in you. They also are the ones who change for the worse. Don't change yourself to keep your relationship with the friend who's changing.
Sometimes it may not feel like it, but growing apart can be a good thing. At the beginning of a "friend breakup," the cons may seem to outweigh the pros. Thankfully, time heals, and it can reveal the positivity of a situation. The friends I've lost in the past are all currently in different places in life than I am.
Coincidentally, my current closest friends are all in the same boat as me at this stage of our lives. It's a negative thought, but I'm aware that life stops for no one, and once again, I will leave some of these friends behind before advancing to my next stage in life. Friendship is kind of like a life cycle. When old friendships die, new ones are bound to arise.
That being said, enjoy the time spent with your current friends. Memories of past friendships are awfully bittersweet. The songs, places, ideas, etc. shared with your friends are likely to turn into nostalgic memories once the friendships fade. No matter where life leads you, the memories you make with your friends will remain, so make them sweet!
