Forever Friends

I feel truly bad for people who don’t have the types of friends that I do.

I have been fortunate enough in my life to have some wonderfully amazing people supporting me along every path I’ve taken so far. I’ve also been lucky in the fact that many of these awesome people have not only come in for a short amount of time, but have stuck with me through thick and thin. Not only are they great friends for that, but they’re strong, forgiving people as well.

After an incident this week with a couple of people I thought were friends, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to have a true, lasting friendship. I’m not somebody who gives up so easily or holds onto grudges – and apparently, these people are. In the end, I know that they’re not the types of people I want in my life, but it still hurts to look at a person and think “wow, you’re not who I thought you were”.

In that same aspect, though, there are a lot of people like that in the world. A lot of people hold onto anger or grudges with everything in them, and to me, that just seems exhausting. When you spend your time trying to “get back” or “get even” with someone, you’re really only wasting your own energy. Usually, the other person doesn’t even know there’s an issue, or he/she has already moved on from it.

I found this quote on Pinterest a few months back, and I think it’s one of the greatest explanations of holding onto anger:

It’s so true… And I’m learning to just let people like that go. As I look at the people around me, I realize that I have some of the most lasting and incredible friendships ever. I have people who have been in my life since I was 8 years old… Not just one person, but multiple. And I’m part of a very small percentage of people who continues to get together with all of my high school friends whenever possible – even if we are all in different states.

They say that if a friendship lasts more than 7 years, it is more than likely going to be a lifelong friendship. I have to say, so far, those stats ring true, and I’m forever grateful for my forever friends and the people that stay by my side through everything.