As we grow, sometimes we lose close friends, significant others, even family members sometimes (not in the physical sense).

Also as we grow, we change.

Tremendously.

Recently, I had a falling out of a friendship. During the argument and whatever else it ended up being, the phrase "you've changed" kept being thrown at me, meant to be an insult.

Of course we change, we are human beings.

How is me growing as a person an insult? Last time I checked, who I was at eighteen is completely different than at almost twenty-two, and that's how it should be.

My mom and I were discussing the situation, and she just paused for a minute and said, "changing is how we grow as human beings, and I f**king hate when people try to use that as an insult. How are we suppose to learn and grow if we don't change? This world would be a pretty boring place." Moms always know, it's like a sixth sense that comes about when women give birth or something.

She is right, though. How are we suppose to grow, and learn? When I was eighteen, I was much more naive and still chasing idiot guys who only were interested in me for a month, then moved onto the next girl that glanced their way. I have learned through my terrible relationship track record what I want and don't want in a life partner. I'm happy about the person I have become, because I have flourished, and will continue to do so. I have also changed, because I choose to have positive people around me who will only help me grow, instead of negative people who have the black cloud hover over them, because they aren't happy where they are in their lives. I choose to be happy, and have learned that through the hundreds and thousands of situations I've been in, and learned from every single one.

Don't think of people telling you that you've changed is an insult, but a complete compliment. Be glad you aren't the same person you were last year, you have had situations and life happen to you, and you learned and grew from it. People who try to use it as an insult, are people who have never learned from situations, but choose to stay the same.