I once believed that friendship is forever. That if we experienced youth together, sleepless nights, travels and first disappointments, then it is something sacred. And I held on to people for a long time simply because they were there “then”. Because there was “so much in common”, “so much has been passed”. And it seemed that it did not matter that now there is nothing left between us in common.

But over the years I began to understand one thing: the past is not a reason to live in a dishonest present.

We all change. Someone grows, someone stops. Someone stops listening, but never gets tired of talking. Someone constantly needs help, but does not find time to ask “how are you?”. And I justified them for a long time: “she has always been a bit difficult”, “well, we have been friends since childhood”, “she is just going through such a period”.

But you know what else I learned to accept? The fact that love, respect and friendship should be mutual. That friendships based solely on habit or pity no longer suit me. That friendships shouldn’t pressure, exhaust, or be based solely on my initiative.

I stopped holding on to old friendships “out of respect for the past.” I’m grateful to those people for that stage of my life. But now I choose my emotional health. Peace. Balance. And intimacy that is not just a memory, but a living, warm exchange here and now 🌿