Appreciating our Friends

We meet many people in our lifetime and some have a major impact, some a minor impact but everybody we meet shapes who we are. There are those childhood friends that you haven't seen in numerous years and when we see them again, we have an immense appreciation for their friendship. And when we get older, we really just look at the good in the person and though they may not be perfect, it's a completely different outlook than when we were kids. And then we have friends that are very close and over time, grow in different directions with their viewpoints, opinions, etc. A good friend is one in which each person can grow separately but not apart. But there are times, when perhaps we need to reevaluate our circle of friends to ensure that the cohesive balance remains intact and our friends add happiness to our lives and not unnecessary stress. Being a long time friend to someone who you need to pull away from can be very sad and almost like a divorce. But just like any change, it takes courage to recognize the need for change and appreciate the past, but then make changes for the better in the now and the future. There are so many people who can add much to each of our lives and it's up to us to be open to these little gifts!