A good friend of mine and I recently had a falling out. It had been the first time someone intentionally chose to not be my friend. As you grow, your friends change. Life is constantly moving and changing and composed of a series of growing experiences. So, like everyone, I have grown apart from friends. I think that happens and it's natural. As you learn more about yourself, you learn what types of people you would like to surround yourself with. Never has a friendship of mine ended badly, and quickly, and on such sad terms.

It would be one thing if we had this huge disagreement over basic moral principles or ethics—or my love for John Hughes movies—you know, important, huge aspects of life. But it wasn't—we stopped being friends over a miscommunication and a failure to forgive.

The whole situation makes me sad, even though months have passed. But I have begun to take this poor circumstance and learn from it. When life hands you lemons or whatever. What I realized was that anyone who isn't willing to fight—to really fight for a relationship and make it work—just isn't worth your time. Most issues can be worked through, and discussed and eventually, hopefully, forgiven. But, someone who can't forgive, can't grow? Growth in life is key.

Awareness of my actions and the effect they have on other people is something I realized. I could mean one thing in my mind, but my actions might get misunderstood by other people. Communication is key in order to avoid any miscommunication or misunderstandings provoked by actions.

This situation has helped me grow as a person—and for that, I say "thank you" to my no longer friend. I won't make the same mistakes in later relationships and hopefully you won't either. We part ways and hopefully we learn.

Relationships with people who challenge, inspire, and understand you are beneficial and rewarding and are the kinds of friendships I want to have. But also knowing who you are and what you deserve maters.

I might have fu*ked up in this friendship—but it takes two people to ultimately decide if a "fu*k up" is something that can be worked through. This time it wasn't, and that's too bad.

I know me and I know the kind of person I am. This friendship is over, and as sad as that is, we both stayed true to who we were as people—and that's really all that matters in the end. When friendships end and identity is questioned—all you can really do is go be better.