The one who loses friends along the way

Okay, let's not kid ourselves, adult life is a bit like a board game where sometimes you lose pieces. And these pieces are your friends. Yeah, no matter how hard you try, some of them disappear over time. And not in the sense that they move to the other side of the world, no, but just... in the sense that the connection is gradually cut off.

We start with the childhood friends. Those who were supposed to be there for life, who had the same dreams as you, the same discussions until the early hours... But, over the years, life, relationships, work, distance, and bam!

You find yourself thinking, "Who was that old friend who said we'd be there for each other for life?"

You find yourself walking past a café where you used to hang out together, and you realize that there's no room for him in your schedule anymore. And it hurts, because, frankly, no matter how hard you try to stay in touch, the energy is no longer the same. He has his dream job, his life as a couple, his dog who does cute things on Instagram, and you, well, you get lost in your series and your dreams of going on a solo trip. The routine, you see, it's there, but not the one you imagined together.

Then there is friends from the “same era”… These friends with whom you share epic memories, evenings remaking the world, crazy projects... And then, little by little, you have the impression of seeing them move away at each stage of your life. A move here, a marriage there, a child, a change of job. And you, you didn't see anything coming. Time passes, conversations become rarer, calls less frequent.

A message here, a like there, but in the end… nothing solid. And you wonder: “But why are we drifting apart? What happened?”

 Maybe you're too wrapped up in your own life. Maybe they've changed too. But either way, there's this moment when you realize that the relationship is hanging on by a thread, and it's a little sad. You don't feel like you're part of the same story as them, and it scares you a little, actually.

And then there are the friends of circumstance. Those you meet in a specific context, a project, a passion, and you tell yourself that naturally, you will develop a friendship. Except that no, in fact. Because once the project ends or the passion collapses, there is no more reason to see each other. At first, you have the impression that it will last, that there is this alchemy between the two of you. But, like a bad coffee, it cools down quickly. And you, you end up staying there, saying to yourself: "We were so close, but... why don't we see each other anymore?"

Now there are also the famous “friendly breakups”. Yes, there are those who say that there is no such thing as a friendly breakup, but seriously, have you ever experienced that?

Those friends you had a fight with, who went from "best friends" to "total strangers." This one is a little more intense. It's like a romantic breakup, but without the flowers. No reconciliation, no new encounter. This kind of breakup is a bit like losing a family member, except this time, you're the one who doesn't want to get back in touch.

But what does all this really mean? That you're a bad friend? Not at all.

It's just that life changes, and people with it. Sometimes you move forward, sometimes you stay there, and sometimes you're the one who has to leave so that others can arrive. Because in truth, the loss of some friends also means that there are others waiting for you, who are there to support you and share new stories with you. And that's not nothing.

So yes, you lose friends along the way, but you also gain more real, more authentic moments with those who stay. And in the end, maybe that's the real beauty of life: the people who leave make way for those who stay. And those are the ones who count.

So if you lose friends, don't worry too much. It's just life sorting things out. And sometimes, it's better that way. Because in the end, you're the one who chooses who you really want by your side.