Auld Lang Syne

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day. -Dalai Lama

As I get older, I am increasingly aware of how people come in and out of my life. How many times did we hear as kids, “friends come and go, but you will always have your family?” That has proven to be true for the most part, but I have found that friends can be every bit a part of your family as blood relatives. And sometimes, family relationships can be so toxic that you must limit contact or end them completely. It is a constant juggling act, deciding on whom we wish to invest our time and energy. It's difficult to keep up friendships from the past, make time for extended family, and cultivate new relationships. So many wonderful friends have drifted away, and I often wonder how. I analyze my part in it, feel guilt, then sadness, and then anger or resignation. It's a process of grieving played out many times over for the people I loved that once were an important part of my life. I appreciate that through social media, we can attempt to rekindle at least a fraction of the tie that was severed. But I find myself avoiding Facebook, (the only account that I have). It is exhausting trying to status or message people. So much pressure to be interesting and witty. I can only hope that I sufficiently express my love and appreciation for my precious friends and family by relatively old-fashioned means. I must remind myself that letting go of the worry and guilt is always helpful and productive. Ultimately the best we can do is put the One relationship at the top of the list. When our relationship with God is thoughtfully and intently nurtured, we can rest assured that we are on the right path, and so are our friends. We will always have a piece of eachother that will shape who we are in the future.