Amigos

It’s been almost more than two months since I’ve seen some of my closest friends; interestingly, I’m usually so eager to hang out with them when I visit San Diego. Yet, the past six months have been the longest I’ve stayed in the area and the least ive seen them. Despite being closer than i have in years, the distance between loved ones feels even farther.

I won’t lie; there were times I felt saddened by our mutual silence. I recognize it’s a two-way street, and I didn’t reach out either. We’re all adults now and as we’ve grown,we’ve become wrapped up in our own lives—our jobs, our hobbies, our significant others. It’s easy to overlook these parts of our lives.

I’ve always believed that as I’ve gotten older, hanging out with my friends isn’t just about passing the time. It’s about enjoying and appreciating each moment because I don’t know when I’ll see them again—it could be a year from now, two years, or maybe just six months. These are friends I’ve known since I was 14 years old, and some even younger. These people know me quite well; they are familiar with the youthful version of me and continue to learn about who I am today.

Many of us try hard to change and to show those around us—our family and friends—how much we’ve changed. But for the people who have known you for the majority of your life, they can perceive the shifts. The person they once knew, who maybe shared a smoke with them in the garage while playing Super Smash Bros., might now have different priorities, a different way of thinking, or even a different friend group.

Yet, true friends, regardless of whether they see the change or whether there is any change to be seen at all, accept you. Hanging out with them feels just like it did 10-15 years ago. Everyone might have changed a bit, but the essence of our friendship—the interactions, the jokes, the conversations—remains comfortingly the same.