Everyone has those people who they lost touch with for one reason or another as years went by. Whether it was by choice or just time that left friends distant, we all have people that we have memories with that are no longer a part of our life. Some people were hurt by exes, some made bad decisions and hurt a friend, and some just didn't want to be around someone anymore because of the path they were starting to go down. No matter what the reason was, don't be bitter about the people who aren't a part of your life anymore. No matter how much they wronged you, keep hold of the good memories you had with them, and look back on your time with them with peace.

I want to take a moment to address the people who have walked out of my life. Exes, old friends, people I lost touch with for one reason or another, I'm talking to all of you. What I would like to say to you is thank you. Thank you for the times we spent together, good and bad. Thank you for teaching me things about myself, things about you, and things about this world. I wouldn't be where I am today without walking my path with you, no matter how short of a time our walk together was.

To the exes who taught me the right and wrong things that could happen in a relationship: thank you. I may have been hurt by you, I may have caused you pain, or maybe we just didn't belong together. But without my relationship with you, I wouldn't have the knowledge that I've gained over the years. For that, I thank you. I am sincerely sorry for any pain I caused you, and I have come to peace with any pain you caused me.

To old friends who lost touch with me for one reason or another: thank you. Whether we moved away from each other and couldn't talk anymore or we deliberately stopped talking, I don't regret my time with you. I will remember all of our adventures together, the laughs we shared, the tears we left on each other's shoulders. No matter how bad the end of our friendship was, what I will remember is the good that came from our time together, and I hope you remember me that way too. While we may not decide to be in each other's lives again, I do not wish that I never met you. You were an important piece to the puzzle of my life, no matter how small.

We learned so much together. We learned about life, about each other, about ourselves. We have memories that only belong to one another, and I hope that you look back on our time together with fondness, and not with any bitterness or negativity. While it may have been beneficial for us to walk separate paths rather than stick together, you are part of why I am who I am. I will always be thankful for that.