I am super intentional about my friendships.

About learning how to be a better friend. About loving my friends well. About being there for my friends any time they need me. About talking through the hard stuff, forgiving, and going the extra mile for my friends.

I am a really good friend. It’s one of the few things I have full confidence in.

With that comes disappointment because, you see I am a FOREVER friend. If I really allow someone into my life, into my inner circle I will be their friend forever.

It doesn’t mean we won’t have disagreements or hurt feelings, but it does mean that I am willing to move past almost anything and that apologies mean a lot in my eyes.

Many times hurt in my life has been from people not showing up for me how I have for them. Whether it’s from a friendship being 1-way and I’m putting in all the effort, they have made some unethical or harmful decisions, or just aren’t the person they said they were.

What you see is what you get with me. Yes, I am always looking for ways to grow and better myself, but no one will wake up one day and say “Wow! I thought I knew you, but I clearly don’t.

I am a consistent friend and I’ve realized that is very hard to find in others. I’ve had people in my life that I have spent a considerable amount of time with, and they have turned out to be inauthentic, unaccountable, and unreliable as a friend.

I’ve accepted the fact that all friendships won’t last forever, no matter how hard I may want them to.

It still takes 2.

I can’t control other people’s actions, decisions or authenticity towards me, and I’m tired of taking that on. All I can do is control my OWN actions, motives, and loyalty towards others.

But people disappoint us and let us down…. that is sadly part of life and there is no way around it.

I’ve learned that even though I am a forever friend, some other people may not be. I can still appreciate the friendship and that time that they were a positive part of my life (this also helps a lot with forgiveness if hurt was done to you).

I can still move on in a positive way, hoping and believing the best in people and grateful for the friends who have stood by me for years through all the ups and downs.

I hope that whatever you may have gone through that you will still continue to stay true to yourself, to be the better person, and to treat people with love despite how they treat you.