To the friends of my friends

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I like the friends of my friends. The same-city friends of my long-distance bestie. The college friends of my school friends. The childhood friends of my adult friends. The guy friends of my girl friends and the girl friends of my guy friends. 

I see the joy in their eyes when they talk about these people, some who were there before me and those who came after me. There is something magical about knowing that even if nothing else ties me to these people, we are united on one front - being there for our friend. The sense of camaraderie, joy and fulfillment I gain by knowing that someone else cares for someone I love in ways I can't, is inexplicable. 

It makes me realize that I play a very specific role in each of my friends' lives and they in mine. Meaning - no one person can fulfill the other's every need - no matter what! While I can be a sounding board for my long-distance besties, I can't help them move flats, sitting miles away. With some friends, I can jam to all kinds of music. With others, passing time means talking about our deepest fears and anxieties. 

I also realize that I don't play the same exact role in every friend's life. Some friends need me to remind them of how good they are, while others need a wake-up call every now and then. Some friends need constant check-ins, while others are happy with calls and meeting up every once in a while.

Maintaining friendships as an adult can be so hard! Knowing that my friends have other people in place who can fill the shoes I don't fit in, gives me such an immense sense of relief. Knowing that my friends are being loved with the ferocity they deserve to be, makes me so glad.

In a world where chosen family does so much more than blood relations, I am glad that I have the capacity to be there for my friends, and they can be there for me. And whenever I can't, I know they have more shoulders to lie on.

So here's to the friends of my friends, thank you for being there for our loved one in ways only you can.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2026 at 12:48 AM

    Such an unexpected but much needed appreciation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nivetha ArunJanuary 6, 2026 at 12:13 PM

    Breezy enough to slide straight into the brain and heart! ❤️

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2026 at 1:41 PM

    So relatable 🌸

    ReplyDelete

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