The Drift: Celebrating Friendships that Have Grown Apart

There wasn’t a falling out. 
Nothing terrible happened. 

You’re not mad, and you’re fairly certain they aren’t either. But still, there’s a space between you. You’ve lost touch, you’ve grown apart, and you’ve moved on. And yet, sometimes, you find yourself feeling guilty about it. Wondering what exactly happened. But mostly, you just hope they’re doing well, that they know how much you still care, even from afar.

That’s the drift.

It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? You don’t expect it to happen, and when it does, it can leave you feeling uncertain or even a bit sad. But here’s the truth—there’s nothing wrong with it.

There’s nothing bad or disloyal about growing apart. 

It’s simply a part of life. Sometimes, paths that were once side by side reach a fork in the road, and naturally, those paths lead you in different directions. They stayed in their lane, and you stayed in yours.

And you know what? That’s okay.

We tend to carry this strange sense of guilt when we lose touch with someone. We ask ourselves, *Did I do something wrong?* *Did they feel abandoned?*

But here’s the thing—life is constantly changing. 

People are evolving, growing, and moving in ways we can’t always predict. Sometimes, our lives just don’t align the way they used to. That’s not a reflection of the value of the friendship—it’s just life moving forward.

So, if you’re feeling that guilt or wondering what happened, it’s time to shake it off. Let go of the shame and release the questions. It’s natural for friendships to drift. It doesn’t mean that the love or care you once had for them is gone, it just means that the connection is different now. And that’s okay.

Let’s normalize the drift.

Let’s normalize cheering on the friends we’ve lost touch with, even from a distance. You can still be their biggest supporter without being in their life every day. Just because you’re not hanging out anymore doesn’t mean you’ve stopped caring or that you don’t want the best for them.

That friendship, the one that drifted, mattered. It shaped you. It taught you something. And just because you’re no longer in constant contact doesn’t take away from how important it was. 

Some friendships are meant to last a lifetime, and others come into our lives for a season. Both types are valuable. The friendships that last through the years are treasures, but so are those that were only there for a short chapter. They all matter, and each one holds its own significance in your story.

So, let’s celebrate the friendships we still have, but let’s also honor the ones that have drifted. Life is full of surprises, and new connections are always around the corner. There’s no need to hold onto guilt or sadness about the ones that have passed by. Instead, be open to the future and the new people who will enter your life, because your path is exactly where you belong.

The drift isn’t the end of the story. It’s simply the next chapter. And that’s something to be grateful for.

XX, Kelleen