Why It’s Okay When Friends Move On

Understanding that it’s natural for friends to come and go, and how to find happiness in those memories.

Embrace the transient nature of friendships with a positive attitude. Just like this child holding a mug that says ‘See the Good’, we must focus on the joy, comfort, and support we gain from each interaction, and remain grateful for the time spent, no matter how brief. #SeeTheGood #FleetingFriendships. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

People come and go in our lives, much like the way servers attend to a table and then move on to the next one. It’s a transient dance, one that we all partake in. Sometimes, it’s a brief month, maybe a fun seven months, and perhaps, if the stars align, it stretches across years, or maybe even decades. But the inevitable truth is that most friendships, like all good things, come to an end.

The pain of such a loss can be sharp, a sting that lingers. But, in these moments of reflection, we truly understand the value of what we had. It’s not about the duration but the depth, the moments of pure joy, the lessons learned, and the memories etched into our hearts.

I remember a day, not too long ago, when I was sitting on a boardwalk, lost in my thoughts. The sun was high, casting long shadows, and the world seemed to move slowly. Suddenly, a little dog, tail wagging, sauntered over and took refuge under my bench. He looked at me with those big, innocent eyes and dropped a tennis ball at my feet. Without thinking, I picked it up and threw it. The dog, with all the enthusiasm in the world, chased after it, bringing it back for another round. We played this game for a few minutes — a simple exchange between two souls. And then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, his owner rounded the corner, and the dog trotted off, leaving me with a smile that lasted the entire day.

Floki and his ball. (Photo by Author).

The owner had no idea I had lost my dog, a companion of 13 years, just a few months before. He didn’t know that his dog’s innocent gesture had touched a raw nerve, bringing a moment of pure, unadulterated joy to my otherwise gloomy day.

These fleeting moments, these transient connections, often bring the most profound joy and understanding. This lesson applies not only to our interactions with animals but also to our relationships with people.

Every person we meet every friend we make, serves a purpose in our journey. Some friends are the life of…