To My Seasonal Friends,

I want to thank you for all the lessons that you taught me and the memories you gave me. Even though we thought our friendship would last forever and we would be bridesmaids at each others weddings, our friendship faded away. That doesn't mean that either of us are bad people. We simply got busy, moved away, or transitioned into a new stage of life that the other couldn't follow.

I haven't forgotten you though. I haven't forgotten the way you made me laugh when I wanted to cry, or the way that you knew exactly what to say when I needed it. I haven't forgotten the nights that we spent running outside playing night games or roasting marshmallows over the fire. The time we went to summer camp and I got bedbugs or the countless times we obsessed over Twilight.

Our elementary school days were filled with sun and bike rides around our neighborhood. Our middle school days were filled with boy drama and awkward dances. Then I moved away and everything changed. We promised to stay in touch, to remain best friends forever. At first we did. We would text every day and Skype as much as we could. Eventually though, life got in the way. Distance became too much and that's OK.

We were there for each other when it mattered. We were there for the joyful moments, the ones filled with pain, and every moment in between. If I saw you today, we would be able to reminisce about the easier days, but we would be strangers.

Some of you were close friends until I moved away. Others were a BFF for a single year in elementary school. All of you made a difference in my life. All of you helped me become the woman I am today. You all taught me lessons about the world and about myself.

You taught me that it is OK to say no and stand up for myself. You taught me what kind of person I wanted to be and how to think for myself. I learned about faith, friendship, love, hate, and everything in between. You might have had a huge impact in my life, or you might have had a small one, but you DID change me.

I used to hate myself for letting friendships fade. I thought it meant that I was a horrible person, but it doesn't. There are seasonal friends, people who only are supposed to be a part of your life for a set amount of time but who can impact you forever. Letting go of seasonal friendships doesn't make you a bad friend; it makes you human.

So once again, thank you. Thank you to the people that were a part of my life for a year or even five. Thank you for the amazing childhood memories and the lessons you sometimes inadvertently taught me. I had seasonal friends in high school, and I thank them too. I know that I will continue to have seasonal friends for the rest of my life. So thank you in advance to the seasonal friends that have yet to even enter my life. You did make a difference in my life, even if you never realized it.