Friendships: Difficult to Keep, But Rewarding If Maintained

BFF – Best Friends Forever?

Friendships can be hard to maintain, but deeply rewarding when nurtured. Have you ever felt like a friend was drifting away? You’re not alone. Many people—especially teenagers—struggle to make friendships last.

Truth is, making new friends is often easy, but keeping them takes effort. And that effort begins with commitment.

Why Friendships Can Be Hard to Keep

We often assume that friendships should be effortless—that if we have to work at it, maybe it’s not meant to be. But that’s a myth.

Big life changes like moving from elementary to middle school, starting high school, or heading off to college mean we constantly meet new people and adjust to new environments. It’s easy to stay close with a friend when you live on the same street and have sleepovers every weekend—but what happens when that routine ends?

The Pull of Growing Apart

As we grow older, we naturally find new interests and habits. We might hang out with different people who reflect our evolving personalities. This is especially true during the teenage years, which are full of personal transformation.

You may notice that you’re no longer interested in the same things your old friends care about—or maybe they’ve grown distant from your world.

Keeping Friendships Alive

Strong friendships need intentional care. That means:

• Making time to connect—even if it’s just a quick call or message.

• Planning movie nights, outings, or sleepovers.

• Being open and honest about your lives and changes.

As both you and your friend grow, you’ll need to adapt—but that’s part of what makes friendships meaningful.

When It’s Time to Let Go

Not all friendships are meant to last forever—and that’s okay.

If a relationship starts feeling one-sided or draining, it might be time to step back. Maybe the friend who once shared everything now only talks about themselves. Maybe they’re no longer interested in activities you both once loved.

Ask yourself:

• Are we still supporting each other?

• Are we growing in the same direction?

If not, it’s okay to walk away with love and gratitude for the good times.

Friendship Is Still Worth It

Growing up means change—in your appearance, values, routines, and friendships. Yes, you may lose some people along the way. But you’ll also gain new support systems, new circles of trust, and new memories.

The key takeaway?

Fight for friendships that uplift and inspire you. Let go of the ones that don’t.

Because the friendships you keep—through effort, care, and understanding—will reward you with joy, comfort, and lifelong connection.