"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
Indeed, for better or worse, things will never go back to the way they used to be in our lives. We change and the people in our lives change, which in turn means that our relationships evolve.
Some of us are lucky enough to have friendships that have remained mostly intact for many years -- ones we forged as early as childhood.
But such friendships are a rare breed.
Our experiences over time affect virtually every facet of our lives: personality, lifestyle, beliefs, attitudes, taste in food and music, and so on.
Nothing changes a friendship quite like a major lifestyle change -- from moving to getting married and having kids.
But change isn't always a bad thing. How would we grow if our lives all remained the same?
It doesn't mean our relationships have to end; they simply evolve.
If they evolve too drastically for any of the parties involved, perhaps it's time to call it quits and make new friends.
Not everyone will join you for each and every stage of life. There's a reason and season for every friendship. Once that has come to pass, both people can take whatever lessons they learned and put them to good use in future relationships.
We should never lament any relationship that has made us happy or taught us an important lesson, even if it ended badly. It's our relationships and experiences that ultimately mold us into who we are.
Accepting the fact that people have changed (for the worse) isn't always easy, but we have no choice. Life goes on. If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's that change is the only constant in life.
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