This coming Sunday, August 5, is Friendship Day. I know I use Valentine’s Day to talk about relationships, but I’ve never done the same thing with friendships. So I want to change that. I know I wrote about a month ago about friendships and qualities I look for, but I’ve spent a lot of time this summer with my friends. As a result, this has helped me gain a deeper understanding of both myself and my friends.

• Dear friends who are no longer in my life,
  First of all, I want you to know that I don’t hate you. Whether it was time or a situation that made us part, you’re no longer a strong presence in my life. I hope your life is going well, and I wish you the best. Just because we are no longer friends does not mean that your life should have to suffer. I hope you find happiness and learn from your past experiences. Thanks for the memories we shared, and best of luck on all your future endeavors. If it was time that made us part, I would love to hear how your life has turned out since we’ve been apart. If it was a situation, then it might be harder to reconcile with me. I don’t walk away unless given a reason to, and I’ll probably have a hard time trusting you again. This is nothing against you. That is just how I am. But I can honestly say I have nothing against you.
• Dear old friends who we may have drifted apart but are now reconciled,
  I’m so glad we’re friends again. I know life can get in the way and circumstances can cause us to walk different paths in our life, but I’m glad our paths crossed again. I valued your friendship then and I value it now. I love seeing where you are in your life, and I support everything you try to do. We may not talk all the time (I’m not always on social media, but I respond to direct communication pretty well). I try to keep updated on things you may be doing with your life. You have my support and I wish you well on your life! Thanks for letting me be a part of it!
• Dear old friends,
  We’ve been friends for a long time. Both of us have changed and matured throughout the years, and I’m so proud of where we are now. They say if a friendship lasts more than 7 years, then it will last a lifetime. Thanks for being my lifelong friends. You’ve seen me at my worst and helped me through it, and you’ve seen me at my best. We’ve celebrated, laughed, cried, experienced heartbreak, and supported each other through so many circumstances of our lives. I want you to know that I’m always here for whatever you may need, and I love the influence we’ve had on each other.
• Dear new friends,
  You haven’t been in my life as long as some of the other people on this list. Maybe we met in college, or didn’t become friends until recently. As a result, we don’t have as many memories as some of my other friends. That’s okay. We make our own memories and forge our own paths. I’ve loved the times we’ve shared, and where we’re going with our lives. I hope we make it to being lifelong friends. I cannot wait to see what the future hold for both you and me. I love learning about you and your life. Because I wasn’t a part of them, I don’t know how you came to be you. But I’m learning, and I love to learn about you now and make memories with you.
• Dear best friends,
  Oh boy. I have so much I could say to you. You are the greatest people I could ask for. You’re the first ones I turn to when something goes wrong, but you’re also among the first people I tell good news to. I love the effect you have had on my life, and I hope I’ve had one on yours as well. I love our adventures, our late-night talks, and that our friendship has stood against so much. You’re my therapists and my cheerleaders, my counselors and my encouragers. I cannot put into words how special you are to me. I love you all dearly and love that I get to be an active part of your life. Thanks for always being there for me, and I love to return the favor when I can. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done, and everything we’ve been through. Even though we’ve had our share of disagreements, we always seem to find our way back to each other again because we understand the importance of our friendship.
• Dear everyone who finds themselves on this list,
  I love you, and I thank you for the time we’ve shared/ will continue to share. You’ve influenced me more than you know. I wouldn’t be who I am without you having been in my life. I wish you the best in all you do, and I hope that you lead a successful life surrounded by people who care. Remember to always be yourself. Nobody can do that except you. Don’t be someone you’re not. Learn, grow, laugh, love, and don’t forget to have adventures. You’re going to do great things in your life, and I hope you’re proud of what you accomplish.

Love,
Kim ♥