What to do when childhood friends grow apart?

The adage says, "People enter our lives for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime." Many times, the childhood friend comes for a reason or a season. Childhood friends growing apart can be very painful, but it is a natural part of life. However, there are times when the childhood friend is supposed to be around for a lifetime. Each friendship has its path, and determining which direction your friendship goes can decide what to do when the friendship drifts apart. To deal with drifting apart from your childhood friend, you can check in with the friend to see if the friendship is worth saving, accept the new associate status, and remember when one door closes, another opens.

CHECK-IN & CHECK STATUS

 Sometimes you and your friend are not on the same page. You may feel you two are drifting apart, but they think the friendship is just perfect. It would be best to communicate with your friend about your concerns and how much the friendship means to you. Then, allow the friend to tell you their perspective of the relationship. If you agree that you have let the friendship get away from you, you both have to put in the effort and work to get the friendship back on track. If your friend is unwilling to do the work, you must accept that the friendship will continue to go in the other direction. If you are a true friend, you will allow your former friend to do what is best for them and love them from afar. 

FRIEND TO ASSOCIATE

Just because the friendship has changed or ended does not mean you two must be excluded from each other’s life. Many times, an associate relationship can be just as rewarding and have less pressure. An associate is someone fun to hang out with on occasion, but they are not checking for you or you for them. You see each other when convenient, and there are no expectations for one another to be there during the good times or the bad times. This new level of friendship can give both of you what you need. Some people make your life better by just being a part of it by any means possible. 

OPEN DOOR FOR NEW FRIENDSHIPS

When someone decides to walk out of your life, then you should let them. They are the ones losing something special, not you. Once a slot in life has been vacated, it opens the door for new people to fill that vacancy. There are people out there that have dreamed of having a friend like you but could never get close because that other person was in the way. Do not allow fear to cause you to avoid making new friends. The next friend that comes into your life might be there for a lifetime.