Making new friends is always a difficult thing to do.

You can put forth the effort, make phone calls, stop by their house, text message them, whatever the case may be. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. The hardest part about it is the disappointment that comes with friendships.

You can leave messages for friends and never get a response back. You can call them time and time again and not hear from them for days or weeks at a time. Something minimal can ruin that friendship. Something stupid can put an end to conversations that you've enjoyed having. The text messages stop. And you sit and wonder why it was worth the effort. Sometimes you question whether you should even try or not to make new friendships. It makes you question whether it's worth the time, the hassles or the disappointment of friendships.

When you stop and think back about all of the friends you've had, you can listen to what people say: "Friends are there for a period of time. Whether a long time or a short time. They are put there for a reason." That may be true. But it doesn't make the loss of those friendships any easier. Whether it's a friend you've had for five years or fifty years. Whether it's a friend you've had for two days or twenty years. It's not any easier when the friendship comes to an end, your phone doesn't ring and you spend time wondering what happened to a person that once was a huge part of your life.

The disappointment of friendships is one of the hardest things to deal with. You question what you've done wrong. You've wondered if you said or did something to make a person not want to talk to you. You ask yourself if it's something about you. And for all you know, it has nothing to do with you but other person involved. It may have to do with one person or many people in friendships.

Maybe they don't care. Maybe they don't think you matter. Maybe they are just rude, inconsiderate or mean. Maybe they just do what they want to do. And you're left wondering what happened.

Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has had friendships for as long as 30 years; the minute they end up marrying some inconsiderate bitch (yes, I said that) who tells them that they need to drop friendships that aren't local, aren't co-workers or people they talk to daily, sadly, they do end the friendship. Imagine how you'd feel about that?

They are with someone who controls every aspect of their life, tells them what to do and makes them quit friendships they've had for most of their life. You're left wondering why you meant so little to them that they'd be willing to walk away and not even look back. It's disappointing. And sadly, there is nothing you can do about it.

Now think about the social media friendships that people make, whether it's just maintaining a friendship on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or some other form of friendship. If it's not an up-close and personal friendship, or someone that you can see, talk to or text every day or every few days, it's very easy to put an end to it. Everyone has "Facebook friends" that they keep in touch with that they may never see face-to-face or have physical contact with.

And imagine if you're one of those with 200 or 5000 friends. Someone deletes you? You have no idea who's come and gone. And if you use Twitter or other social media? It's even easier for someone to walk out of your life and you never know what happened.

Some of the people using social media today used to use mailing lists, discussion boards or chat boards. And when those disbanded, they were using instant messaging programs. And when those stopped being prevalent, social media took over. But when someone just drops off the face of the earth, if you don't have a phone number, a contact piece, information to reach them etc., you have no idea if they've moved or died. It's quite sad. That goes along with the disappointment of friendships.

Now imagine if you are a sports official. You get to know dozens and hundreds of guys and women over years and years of being on ball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields or on the ice at a hockey rink, and when you stop officiating, you find that everyone you once knew disappears. Imagine the feeling of that. Think about the days you used to be on a field. Think about the friends you made through the years. And take a moment to look back a month or a year later.

Compare the phone numbers you have on your phone to those you actually talk to on a regular basis. Compare what you have from one day to a year later, and you'll sadly discover that most of those people have disappeared. They don't call you. They don't email you. They don't bother to reach out to you. Imagine the feeling one day after you've lost touch with someone years ago and you discover they've died. You think back to the last time that you actually talked to them, saw them or associated with them. It's a sad feeling.

The disappointment of friendships is a sad feeling. It is a letdown. It makes you question whether you want to make friends, whether you want to talk to people or if it's just better that you don't even waste your time.

I've done it for years. You've done it for years. We've all done it for years. And the disappointment of friendships over the years? The feeling sucks.

Now on the positive end, there are good friendships. You will meet people who will be in your life forever; they will have your back when you need it, they will trust you, you will trust them and they will never walk away. Sadly, the number of those people is very minimal compared to the ones who are actually going to walk away from you, never look back and not care if it hurts.

When you think about a friendship you've made, or think about a friend that's come and gone, think about how it feels. Think about what it would feel like if you did that to someone. And keep the friendships that matter the most to you. Think long and hard. And if it's not a friendship that you're interested in? Walk away from it before it's too late. Don't let feelings get involved. Don't let someone get to know you too well. Don't get to know someone too well.

Save your feelings from getting hurt. Although there are some really good people in the world and some good friends you will make, the sad truth is, the disappointment of friendships will crush you day after day until the end of your life.