There's probably one friend in your life you couldn't imagine living without. And, hopefully, you never will have to know the feeling of living without them. But if you find that one day someone you used to talk to every day seems unreachable, and your conversations can no longer progress into something other than small talk, it's important to know that it's normal, and it's OK.
You may find yourself drifting away from a best friend who moved away or found new interests. It's difficult to imagine that allowing the friendship to fizzle out will be anything but heartbreaking, but the interests that once sealed your bonds are no longer intact, and maybe the effort to keep the friendship strong outweighs what you get out of it. This will happen numerous times in a lifetime, and it's OK.
Sometimes, people who once fulfilled our lives will no longer help us move forward. People change in directions that we can't follow, and it's OK to step back and say that this person holds me back. The paths to our futures should not be hindered by those who no longer can find time for us, or make us feel inadequate. If these people make you feel worse on a daily basis than the happiness you once felt, they simply don't belong in your life anymore.
This is not to say that friendships aren't worth fighting for. Friendships, just like romantic relationships, need time and patience to grow after a roadblock. Friendships aren't always effortless, but the best ones are found when the happiness outweighs the effort.
The people who make us better versions of ourselves are the ones who belong in our lives. A normal part of growing up—and of life—is the journey to find these people. Those who challenge us, make us laugh, and help us grow will be there until the end.
