Friends come and go. Trust the process.

It started with a women’s conference, bad weather, and a phone call. Eight (I think) years later, it ended with feelings of anger, sadness, and abandonment. I cried and called and texted. I sent proof of everything I’d said or done. I’d never lied to her. But no matter what I did or said, my capacity for peace was drowned out by Wasband’s incessant need for chaos. 

She’d been pulled into his cycles of triangulation and manipulation. Her husband was an enabler, and she ultimately crossed a boundary that rendered the friendship unsalvageable. My boundaries are sacred. They keep me safe and grounded. I value my serenity above almost anything, and I know my worth. I will cut off anything that devalues me or disturbs my peace.

Here’s the deal. Relationships start and relationships end. It’s inevitable. Professional relationships can start with a new job or mentorship and end with retirement or termination. Friendships can start at the grocery store and end with personal growth or betrayal. Familial relationships can start with birth, adoption, or marriage and end with divorce or death. 

And guess what? The world keeps spinning. The sun continues to rise and set. It is what it is. 

There’s freedom in accepting the transient nature of life. We celebrate the life-giving nature of relationships and we grieve when they end. Was it hard to walk away from my friendship? Most definitely! Do I regret doing so? Not at all! In my experience, peace and freedom abound when you leave any relationship that compromises your ability to be the best version of yourself.