While I was riding this morning I thought about how Steven (and his family) bought me my road bike ten years ago. And I still absolutely love it. Some days (like today) I feel like I am one with it, and could just ride forever.
My bike today
I was also thinking about how Steven threw me a surprise birthday party when I turned 29 (and gave me the bike). He invited all of my friends from that time and I am in touch with so few of them now! I am still close with one, and still talk to two. The rest, I drifted out of touch with as the circumstances that brought us together changed over time (those circumstances being the blogging bubble burst and me no longer being a personal trainer at EFIT).
Me 10 years ago
I know that’s totally normal, but when I think about it too much, it feels odd. Like, am I someone who cannot keep long term friends?! Only time will truly tell, ha. (But really, I wrote that, then forced myself to think of a few people I’ve been friends with for more than ten years. I try to be a good friend, but I know I have flaws, and can be difficult, and have been really focused on me this year… but my true friends give me grace, and I appreciate it.)
We all have our flaws! But when you think about those faded friendships, it does feel strange and sometimes sad to imagine how close you were at one point and how that changed. There is that quote about friends coming into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime – and all three types of friends are true, but not all three are permanent. And fluctuations in friendships because of life circumstances is normal, I think.
It sounds like you have a big milestone birthday coming up next year! 😉
Thanks for reminding me of that quote! I was just trying to remember what it was as I wrote in my gratitude journal for the day and it wasn’t coming to me! And yes, those fluctuations are totally normal. Just sad, like you said.
I do! I am hoping to do a trip to Europe. Fingers crossed!
Fingers and toes! We are repainting our guest bedroom at the moment 🙂
Oooo, good to know 😉
I remember that party! I remembered it as being to celebrate that you got your training certification too, but I might have that mixed up. Either way I’m a little shocked that was already 10 years ago! Time flies.
Friendships ebb and flow and sometimes they stick around and sometimes they don’t. Or sometimes you’ll reconnect with someone you lost touch with. That happens to everyone because our lives are constantly changing and so are we. And I think a lot of us kind of refine who we want in our lives as we get older, which is okay too!
You don’t have that mixed up – I had just passed it that week. I thought about including that in this post but left it out LOL.
And thanks for saying that happens to everyone! Because mentally I know it does, but emotionally, my brain is like “what’s your deal?!”
Remember, sometimes it’s not you, it’s them… I have some really old friendships but also lost a few (newer) ones over time. It’s hard to keep up with EVERYONE (although I sure try – haha.)
Thank you for this reminder! I needed it. I do my best to keep in touch too but at some point it becomes too much work (or one-sided) and I am done.
There are always two people in a relationship – and, when you think about it, your thirties are a time of such change! I would bet that the people with whom you’ve lost touch are maybe in very different places in their lives now than they were then. It’s never, ever just you. 🙂
Definitely! And thanks for that reminder it takes two 😉