Friendship means supporting, inspiring, and genuinely caring for another person. You should never have to ask a friend to do any of these things, those should come naturally. When it comes down to it, you must make difficult decisions about these relationships; cross the bridge or burn it.
There are 3 relationships in my life that standout, each telling a different story. Let me explain…
There are 3 relationships in my life that standout, each telling a different story. Let me explain…
You know how everyone has that one friend who they’ve been friends with for like EVER? Well I had that friend. We hung out every day when we were young and conquered many mountains (hypothetically). In high school, we started growing apart (she was a grade older than me) and eventually due to certain moral choices, we parted ways. Funny thing about it is that she lives right up the street from me. We often cross paths and give a friendly smile or wave. We’ve both grown up and I would love to reconnect with her.
So there’s that…I burnt half the bridge and wish to rebuild it in order to cross it.
So there’s that…I burnt half the bridge and wish to rebuild it in order to cross it.
There is another girl who I was friends with since 6th grade. Although I was there for her through a tough time in middle school, our friendship phased in and out through high school. Our class was split and sent to different high schools. She became someone I hardly knew but I still held strong onto our friendship despite her poor choices. In college we became pretty close again, rooming next to each other in the dorms! It was so awesome to have my best friend right next door! However, trouble stirred with her and a few of our other friends. That put me in the middle and as I tried defending both sides, I again held tight to my long-time friendship with HER.
Anyways, I lost touch with the girls I once considered friends because I was busy defending the girl who I called my “best friend.”
Skip ahead a few years: she found her faith and I supported that entirely even when it felt pushed upon me. I let it go and knew that she was making better decisions now. At her wedding, I was asked to be her maid of honor; truly an honor for me. I was proud to stand next to my best friend and express my love and gratitude for her.
What happened next shocked not just me but everyone who knew our relationship. She started ignoring me and unfriended me on Facebook. No explanation. Finally, I messaged her on FB to see what was going on. Had I said something? Did I make her angry? What was going on?
Long story short, she decided that we were in different places in our lives and chose to explain how quite poorly. The things she said stung me like a swarm of angry bees, over and over.
After this rant, she called apologizing and I decided to meet her for dinner; I decided she deserved a chance to explain. At dinner, she told me she was having a baby. WOW! I was excited for her. We caught up and decided to start over. I was going to forgive her but not forget the hurtful things she’d said.
Guess what? I was blamed for not reaching out to her after that dinner. It was MY fault that we weren’t going to be friends anymore. WHAT?! I was appalled that she was blaming me for not trying to maintain the relationship. Again she chose the most cruel things to say to me. That was it, time to let that relationship go. From that day on, I decided to forgive but never forget. Through all of the phases she went through and all the bad choices she made, I still remained her faithful friend…not anymore.
That is a bridge I can finally burn. It would be dangerous to ever try to cross it again.
Anyways, I lost touch with the girls I once considered friends because I was busy defending the girl who I called my “best friend.”
Skip ahead a few years: she found her faith and I supported that entirely even when it felt pushed upon me. I let it go and knew that she was making better decisions now. At her wedding, I was asked to be her maid of honor; truly an honor for me. I was proud to stand next to my best friend and express my love and gratitude for her.
What happened next shocked not just me but everyone who knew our relationship. She started ignoring me and unfriended me on Facebook. No explanation. Finally, I messaged her on FB to see what was going on. Had I said something? Did I make her angry? What was going on?
Long story short, she decided that we were in different places in our lives and chose to explain how quite poorly. The things she said stung me like a swarm of angry bees, over and over.
After this rant, she called apologizing and I decided to meet her for dinner; I decided she deserved a chance to explain. At dinner, she told me she was having a baby. WOW! I was excited for her. We caught up and decided to start over. I was going to forgive her but not forget the hurtful things she’d said.
Guess what? I was blamed for not reaching out to her after that dinner. It was MY fault that we weren’t going to be friends anymore. WHAT?! I was appalled that she was blaming me for not trying to maintain the relationship. Again she chose the most cruel things to say to me. That was it, time to let that relationship go. From that day on, I decided to forgive but never forget. Through all of the phases she went through and all the bad choices she made, I still remained her faithful friend…not anymore.
That is a bridge I can finally burn. It would be dangerous to ever try to cross it again.
Then there are those friends who would stick by your side no matter what. Sure you’ve probably questioned their choices or have been disappointed by a statement they’ve made but all in all you can count on them to be there supporting, inspiring, and caring for you. A shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or a voice for reassurance are all aspects of a fantastic friend, and yes, I have one of those. My best friend and I met in middle school. We connected pretty quickly since we had much in common. Even though we were split after freshman year (a new high school was built; split the schools by town), our friendship stayed strong through high school; I’d see her face more than I’d see my parents sometimes! She was indeed one of my best friends.
Well, we both went to different colleges and somehow we lost touch but I had a feeling that someday we would reconnect. That day came, quite randomly actually, in the summer before my senior year of college. The night we met up, it was as if we had never left each other’s side: laughing, smiling, and picking right up where we had left off 3 years before. Now I consider her my best friend and even when we disagree, I know that I can be honest with her. We’re different yet similar. We laugh and we cry together. We take road trips, get crafty, and stay up all night with each other. Boy, am I glad that we so randomly reconnected that summer night.
That bridge is one that I will cross over and over again.
(well because I have to get over the river of tears, from both sadness and laughter, somehow!)
Well, we both went to different colleges and somehow we lost touch but I had a feeling that someday we would reconnect. That day came, quite randomly actually, in the summer before my senior year of college. The night we met up, it was as if we had never left each other’s side: laughing, smiling, and picking right up where we had left off 3 years before. Now I consider her my best friend and even when we disagree, I know that I can be honest with her. We’re different yet similar. We laugh and we cry together. We take road trips, get crafty, and stay up all night with each other. Boy, am I glad that we so randomly reconnected that summer night.
That bridge is one that I will cross over and over again.
(well because I have to get over the river of tears, from both sadness and laughter, somehow!)
Yeah, there are more stories I could share (I’ve been screwed over by “friends” more times than I could count) but I find these 3 examples to be most important. I learned a lot from each experience. Regret and revenge are words that I would never choose to act on, even in crappy relationships. Sometimes events come along that seem so big at the time but you have to remember that it’s just a moment in your life but friendship is forever, well at least being a good friend can last forever.
Be the friend you want to have and when there is someone in your life who is less than what you expect a friend to be, don’t be afraid to burn that bridge; the fire will light your way to better opportunities.
Be the friend you want to have and when there is someone in your life who is less than what you expect a friend to be, don’t be afraid to burn that bridge; the fire will light your way to better opportunities.