On Friendship....

Despite my not being the stereotypical social butterfly, I have always had a decent amount of friends. Throughout the years I have added few, subtracted many or just grew apart from certain people who occupied the majority of my life. But even through it all, there are a select group of people who no matter what I know will always be my friends.

The last few years, mainly between college and finishing up law school, the dynamics of a lot of my friendships started to change. One decided she didn't want to be my friend anymore for whatever reason and decided to focus more on her relationship and other friends who were already married. I was hurt and confused by this, but I moved on...
A couple of years later two of my closest girlfriends from college decided that I had "changed" because I didn't want to party all night and be settled down & such and stopped talking to me.... This separation didn't hurt as much since I definitely knew I had outgrown them and really couldn't engage in the same type of activities any longer so I was good. But now, I feel like another shift is on the brinks of taking place....

A relationship with one of my closest guy friends is on the verge of being non-existent and that one I really don't understand. He says everything is fine now, but it just isn't the same. Maybe this is a part of life, or maybe not.... I still haven't figured that it out.

When I sit back and really evaluate the people who are in my life that I know will always be there I do notice a common thread. We may not talk everyday, hang out with each other often like we used to or even share the same interests anymore... It's just the feeling I get that no matter what I can call them up and cry for no real reason and they won't judge (unless I ask them too) or that I can say something random and it will completely make sense to them. There are a lot of other traits, but lately those have been the main two that I have needed most.

Are all friendships meant to last a lifetime? Are there ways to prevent outgrowing a friendship, or is it like relationships where some are meant for a season or a reason?

I think as an adult we don't have time to cultivate friendships like we should in between relationships, work, family etc but I do think having a solid group is important. I also think that friendships shouldn't be measured by the amount of time we spend together, or what all I have given you or what all I can do for you. I just don't think it should be that way, and I appreciate the friends I have that see me for more than tangibles.....