If there is anything I’ve learned about life the past few years, it’s that people change and friendships aren’t always forever.

Life changes dramatically for most people between the ages of 18-25. You go from hanging out with the same group of friends every single day in high school, to going on different paths and barely even having time to catch up. It’s hard to keep friendships going strong while everyone is out in the world living completely different lives.

Growing up and entering the “real world” also teaches you who your real friends are. The people who stick around when life gets tough, when talking and/or hanging out becomes more infrequent, and even when significant others come into the picture are the ones who are in it for the long run.

Friendship should not be about how often you hang out or how many times you go out and party together, it should be about who will be there for you no matter what, will never judge you, will never ever give you a reason to not trust them, will never turn their back on you, will support you endlessly, and who you can hang out with after months of not seeing each other and being able to just pick up right where you left off.

I’ve also learned to really appreciate those friends who have stuck around and stayed in my life. True friends are very hard to find and rare to come by these days… I’m grateful for the amazing friends I have, no matter how small the amount. My mom has always told me that her father would tell her that “you can only count your real friends on one hand” and I now completely understand why.

I’m writing this post because I have honestly lost almost every single person I once considered my “best friend” and honestly thought they would remain in my life forever… but clearly I was wrong. But you know what? I'm starting to learn that it's okay. Because I have surrounded myself with some amazing people who have taught me the true definition of a best friend and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I do miss the old friends who were once like family and I’ll always cherish the memories I have with them. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have moments where I just wish I could pick up the phone and call them just to talk like old times, but sometimes you just grow apart from people and sometimes it takes a very, very long time to see someone’s true colors.

If you are reading this and you are one of my “true few”: thank you for everything. ♥