Ariel Lustra

Some People Are Meant To Be Temporary And That’s Okay

I've always found it to be so cool that your life crosses paths with the lives of so many others, and that even if you just know someone for a short time, you can have an effect on their life and their stories. Looking at it from this point of view makes life exciting.

By

Ariel Lustra

We don’t meet anyone by accident. There is always some intrinsic reasoning as to why someone enters and exits your life. And no matter how long they stay, sometimes people are only meant to stay for the time being. And that’s one of the hardest realizations we have to face.

People who come and go from your life quickly are often the ones who expose you to new opportunities and ways to grow.

We’re resistant to letting these people go because we begin to adapt to them. What we fail understand that some people are meant to be temporary, as much as we wish they weren’t.

“Not everything is supposed to become something beautiful and long-lasting. Sometimes people come into your life to show you what is right and what is wrong, to show you who you can be, to teach you to love yourself, to make you feel better for a little while, or to just be someone to walk with at night and spill your life to. Not everyone is going to stay forever, and we still have to keep on going and thank them for what they’ve given us.” —Emery Allen

I look back at my most memorable encounters and I can now see how every person I’ve come across has played an unheeded role in shaping me into the person I am today. I’ve shared my deep-rooted thoughts, fears, secrets, and dreams with people that are no longer a part of my life. I don’t regret it one bit because at the time it was exactly what I wanted to do.

I’ve always found it to be so cool that your life crosses paths with the lives of so many others, and that even if you just know someone for a short time, you can have an effect on their life and their stories. Looking at it from this point of view makes life exciting.

The sooner we come to terms with the fact that not everybody is meant to be a permanent part of your life, the easier it will be to relish in new relationships and appreciate the time you have to spend with that person, and allow them to exit when it’s time to. We need to make the most of the time we have with each other, and focus on being present. Let go of expectations and assumptions and harbor as many connections as you possibly can.

“I see a lot of people in un-stimulating relationships, and not just boyfriend-girlfriend relationships. They find themselves in stagnant friendships. If people were less scared of ending things, they’d get more out of life….You meet the right person at the right time and they fulfill a certain something in your life. You fulfill something in theirs. But there’s a limit to that.” —Laura Marling

If you lose somebody from your life, don’t lose yourself too.

Always remember that just because some people are only in your life temporarily, it doesn’t make the memories and lessons you’ve shared any less memorable. Thought Catalog Logo Mark


About the author

Andrea Davis

Writer + published author

Daily Devotional

Your Daily Devotional 4/4/2025: Finding Peace During Moments of Stillness

Devotional Message In this day and age, we run swiftly from one thing to another, our lives filled with incessant noise and distractions. When we allow ourselves to find stillness by quieting our minds and opening our hearts, we discover that stillness is not merely physical, but a state of inner quietude. It is within […]

godandman.com

Your Daily Devotional 4/3/2025: Cultivating Inner Strength & Overcoming Limitations

Devotional Message We were born into this Universe as Divine beings. With God dwelling within us, there exists an unlimited potential to connect with His strength. Through spiritual connection, we transcend our human limitations and access boundless power. Rather than relying on ourselves alone, we tap into a higher source, enabling us to climb any […]

godandman.com

Your Daily Devotional 4/2/25: Surrendering To God’s Plan & His Wisdom

Devotional Message The human condition is to rely on ourselves, attempting to control every aspect of our lives. We grip tightly, believing if we hold on, we can navigate the intense waters of each day. Yet compared to Divine wisdom, our understanding remains limited. As humble followers of God, we must release the reins and […]

godandman.com

Your Daily Devotional 4/1/25: Living By Faith & Not By Sight

Devotional Message God has given each of us a vision of the life we are destined to live. When life feels uncertain and we find ourselves in darkness with no end in sight, we often lose hope that change is possible. As we navigate the unknown, we must learn to see not just with our […]

godandman.com