Ending a relationship, friendly or romantic, can be a difficult and sad thing, especially when you've had the person in your life for a long time. Often, when a long term friendship has issues, people use the excuse "but we've been friends forever" to justify the person's malicious actions and negativity in the relationship. However, knowing when it's time to let the people who don't deserve a spot in your life walk away or walking away yourself is crucial to building new relationships and being a happier person. But how do you know when is the right time?
If you are constantly getting into fights with a friend, that does not necessarily mean that you need to cut them out of your life. Sometimes, it's just easy to butt heads with a person that you love. Getting into an argument with your bestie when she borrowed your new white blouse and got lipstick stains on it is a normal thing. However, if your friend uses this argument as an excuse to tear you apart and make you feel bad about yourself, you don't need that.
You don't need someone in your life who feels it necessary to bring you down to bring themselves up. There are plenty of people out there who will go out of their way to remind you what an important part of their life you are, so why stick around those who convince you otherwise?
Feeling as though you are walking on egg shells for a person all the time is an incredibly unnecessary stress. You should be able to be yourself all the time around your friends and if you feel that you need to censor what you are saying or doing in order to ensure that your friend won't snap at you, get out ASAP!
If they are stressed about a test, don't let them take it out on you. If they are in a fight with their boyfriend, don't let them turn it into a fight with you. Respect yourself enough to realize when a friendship is taking more out of you than it is putting in for you.
When it is finally time to let a friend go, it can be hard to convince yourself that this is what's right for you. However, out with the old and in with the new. If your "friend" doesn't support you, somebody else will. If your "friend" isn't there for you when you need them, someone else will be. If your "friend" doesn't realize and respect what is important to you, someone else will.
