that line has been used on me many times. it makes me wonder how many times i use that same line with others. Of all the times i have used it i wonder how many times i have followed through, and how many times i havent.

im not the best at keeping up with friendships. i am well aware of that. but i dont doubt the strength of any of them. we dont have to chat every day, every week or even every month. but getting together a couple of times during the year to catch up would be nice. 

i do believe that God places people in your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. the friends that i had when i was in elementary school were the most amazing friends. we played red rover during recess, made mudpies if it was wet and we pretended to make movies and celebrate our friendship anniversaries. 

Growing up i was always blessed with many friends. it was easy for me to make them, easy for me to create bonds and talk to people. during middle school, i made friends with my core class, where we talked for hours on the phone, laughed till i rolled on the floor, and made fun of the crappy teachers. i was friends with people who, as i look back right now, i wasnt proud to be friends with, but yet i have extremely fond memories of them, and many lessons were learned. There were enemies who became friends and friends who moved on with me to high school, and even now through university. 

During high school, my friends came in waves. i never hung out with one group. i was all over the place: music nerds, IB kids, enhanced group, older asians, academic kids, and yet there were strong bonds that were created. friends who i think last for a lifetime, and people who i can see in my life for years to come. 

i’ve “lost” many friends over the past years, but i made even more. God has always blessed me with strong bonds, and connections. Now i find that the people who have remained in my life, and the new close friendships that i have made have the potential to last for a lifetime. These are the people who i can picture growing old with, the people who when we are old and wrinkly will talk on the phone yearly, only to find that nothing has changed, and we can pick up right where we left of. 

but when someone calls, the other person has to answer. its a two way street every time. I cant help but wonder if i see these friendships this way, and yet these people see it as a friendship that has just passed through. I may see a friendship as lasting for a lifetime, but perhaps they see the friendship as lasting for merely a season. 

i dont mind making the effort. i dont mind being the first person to initiate conversation, or try to plan a hang out date. but i need the other person to reciprocate. i dont mind being told “i’ll let you know” as long as you follow through with your promise. but if im given the same response time after time, only to see that you are not making an effort at all. then im going to start walking away. ill start understanding. cause the people who you want to stay in your life, are the people who you are going to make the effort to see. 

Friends take time for each other, may it be a day, an hour, or even a text message to say hello. An effort needs to be made. on both sides. Its discouraging to see friendships end and fade especially during this age. but after making effort multiple times, ill walk away knowing that i have done my part, and i have made the effort. i will walk away not having any regrets, but rather knowing that at one point in time we were good friends, and shared amazing times together and perhaps you werent a friend that was placed in my life to last a lifetime but rather you were simply a friend for a season.