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Friend-shedding is a rite of passage and should be seen as a positive sign
of growth. Certain life events tend to accelerate this process – say, the sudden
appearance of a good-looking boyfriend or maybe even an engagement ring.
It's not uncommon for friends to try unconsciously to sabotage these new
relationships if they feel threatened by them. But if that happens frequently, it
may be time to reevaluate your friendship. A frank discussion can work wonders
in this situation – in my case, I found out that my friend and I were not as close
as we'd once been. My life had taken a different direction since we'd first met,
and I'd expected her to follow with the same speed and enthusiasm. We finally
agreed that we are not as alike as we had once thought, nor should we be. We
decided that it was time to take a leave of absence from each other.
Putting each other «on hold» indefinitely is hard, but sometimes it's the
wisest thing to do. It never hurts to put some distance between friends if the
relationship is strained, and it may even prevent a final, irrevocable break.
Sometimes, friendships can be renewed on their own: unlike love affairs,
which demand a certain degree of commitment to stay alive, a little healthy
neglect can be good for a friendship and may even lead to a reconciliation that
might not otherwise have taken place. And if that happens, you'll likely find
yourself in a more honest, and certainly more balanced, relationship. Laying a
friendship out on the table like that isn't easy, but in the long run, it pays off.
After all, knowing who isn't your friend is just as important as knowing who is.
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