The Friendship Shuffle: Gaining, Losing, and Loving Through Change"

Lately, I've been racking up frequent flyer miles like they're going out of style. From Russia to Georgia, Turkey to France, and back to the States, I've practically lived out of a suitcase. But with all that travel comes a bittersweet truth: the more miles you put between yourself and home, the more you risk losing connections with the people you care about.

Have you ever noticed how life has a funny way of shuffling people in and out of your orbit? One minute, you're inseparable, finishing each other's sentences, and the next, you're on different continents, both literally and figuratively. It’s like we’re all characters in this giant, unscripted play, and some scenes just don’t include everyone we thought would be there.

But here’s the thing—I truly believe that people come into our lives for a reason. Call it fate, destiny, or just good timing, but I try to find the lesson in every relationship, whether it’s good or bad. It’s like a cosmic dance, and every person has their own unique rhythm that either complements yours or teaches you to step to a different beat.

Traveling so much has taught me that friendships, like life, are fluid. Some friends are like stars—distant, but always shining. Others are like fireworks—brilliant, explosive, but fleeting. And then, there are those rare ones who are like the sun—constant, unwavering, and life-giving. They’re the soulmates you find in friends, the ones who stick with you through the time zones and turbulence, the ones who make you feel at home no matter where in the world you are.

But let’s be honest, losing friends along the way stings. It’s like trying to hold onto sand—no matter how tight your grip, some of it slips through your fingers. And yet, with every handful of sand that slips away, you’re left with something that’s even more precious—the friends who stay. The more I travel, the more I realize that while my circle may be getting smaller, it’s also getting stronger, tighter, and more meaningful.

So, I’m left wondering: Is it better to have a big group of friends, filled with variety and adventure, or a small, intimate circle where depth and loyalty reign supreme? Are we meant to have a wide array of acquaintances, or is life’s true magic found in those few, unbreakable bonds?

What do you think, dear reader? Is it the size of your circle that counts, or the strength of the connections within it? As for me, I’m learning to embrace the ebb and flow, loving people where they are, and finding joy in the friends who’ve become family.

So, here’s to accepting change, cherishing the ones who stay, and finding your soulmate in a friend. After all, love isn’t just for romance—it’s for the people who make our lives richer, no matter how many miles away they are. Cheers to that.