Navigating friendships can be tough. It’s easy to lose touch with people as you grow older. When you’re in college, you all live in the same area and can be there for one another in the blink of an eye. But as you get older, your friends might move far away from each other, and that comfort can only come from a phone call or FaceTime. And even if you still do live near each other, life gets hectic, and it often can be challenging to see your friends as often as you used to. Friendships can be complicated and drifting from your friends is a natural part of life. However, even if you do find yourself straying from a friend, that doesn’t mean the friendship is over. The most important part about friendship is being there for them even if you haven’t talked in a while. Also if you’re feeling as if you’re drifting, it’s essential to show up and be there for them.

There’s no doubt that life can often get in the way of friendships. You might be starting a new job, getting into a new relationship, or moving into a new town. If life is going crazy for you, you’re not going to be thinking as much about your friends. But that’s why it’s essential to be there for them. You might not have the time to text them every day or show up to their house in a snap like you used to, but no matter how busy you are, you can be there for your friends. If you have plans to go out to dinner, see a movie, or even catch up- stick to them. Don’t cancel them for a date or if a “better” plan comes up. Stick to your plans with your friends, because ditching them will hurt more than you can imagine.

And if you’re far away from a friend, that doesn’t mean you can’t be there for them. We live in a world where you can see someone through FaceTime with a click of a button, so use that to your advantage. Check up on your friends, even if you haven’t heard from them in a while. Check up on your friends, even if you don’t think they need any checking up on.

Although drifting from a friend is normal, it’s painful. But drifting doesn’t always have to be the case. The key to a strong friendship merely is just being there for them, and not only in their time of need but at all times. You would want a friend to be there for you, so make sure you do the same for them.