I grew bored of the small talk I had with my friends from back home. All they wanted to talk about were their jobs, what's going on with Shelby from high school, and their stress load. Not to be rude or anything, but... I'D RATHER BE SLEEPING.

I find it funny that if they had something going on in their lives that they felt they needed to share, I've always been a great support system. However, if it were me, it seemed impossible to get that in return.

Recently, I've learned that my time is precious and I know damn well who to share it with.

I could write a book of everything else I could be doing instead of talking about the people we used to go to school with. And frankly, I believe that it's a topic of discussion because we don't have anything in common anymore. There is nothing to say because I outgrew them. PERIOD.

I'm not going to apologize for growing and changing. As humans, that's what we're supposed to do. That's why some people get left behind and why some stick around.

If it seems like I am too busy to hang out, it's because I am. I'm busy dancing to the new rhythm of life. A life full of change. A life where some people were just meant to be background characters, not having an impact on my story.

I've found my tribe in college and they welcome me wholeheartedly. We listen to each other during the good and the bad. We show each other that we care by celebrating each of our joys and by lending one another our time when we find ourselves sailing in rough waters.

We don't judge each other for evolving because we know it's the norm. My energy doesn't feel depleted when I am with them. It's not a chore to see them. As a matter of fact, I feel refreshed and uplifted, like we are always in balance.

Outside of talking about the weight that we each carry as well as our insecurities and fears, we talk about crazy things like possible life on Mars, our experiences with sleep paralysis, living in the moment, and our views on life and what our purposes are without judgment. Our ideas are never "stupid".

They are the main characters of my life, and I'm proud to say that they are helping me write my story.

I'm not throwing away my old friends; I simply stored them in the old toy bin as Andy did. They gave me happiness and served their purpose in the past.

I will never apologize for my growth and for moving on. I stick around people that make ME feel good. I no longer will keep quiet about this. I'm done with coming up with excuses to not hang out, afraid of hurting their feelings because I can't relate to them anymore. My story is about my happiness since others are certainly not worried about mine.

From now on, I will be around those who give me the energy that I am radiating out to the world. The friends that make sure I get home safe. The people that share my successes and downfalls, and vice-versa. The ones that make me feel reassured that everything is going to be okay.

The ones that can make any situation significantly better. The ones that each taught me something about myself. The ones that let me express my weird, awkward self. The ones I want to share the world with.