To The Friends Who Have Stayed By Our Side This Last Decade—Thank You

Thank you for coming into my life when you did. When I look back, the circumstances surrounding how we met may not seem dramatic or life-changing. Yet I didn’t know back then I was meeting someone who would stick by my side for years and years. We may not have realized how much we needed each other, but we did know that we could trust each other and laugh until we couldn’t breathe- and that was enough.

Thank you for working through every storm we dealt with together. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, perhaps one of us has a bad day, perhaps we were going through a terrible time in our lives- but we’ve said things we couldn’t take back, or responded unkindly when we shouldn’t have. Yet regardless of what happened, we never truly let our friendship go because we know how important it was. Thank you for always accepting my apologies, and thank you for loving me enough to tell me when you were wrong.

Thank you for standing by my side when I faced obstacles that had nothing to do with you. It didn’t matter what the problem was; you still chose to hold my hand when I felt everything was falling apart. You cried with me, even if you didn’t fully understand. You defended me, even if I was wrong- and then you were kind enough to tell me so when we were alone. You didn’t have to take on issues that weren’t your own, and you didn’t have to be supportive when it wasn’t your responsibility. Still, your presence was the very reason I believed I could make it through.

Thank you for creating memories with me that I couldn’t imagine making with anyone else. Thank you for staying up late to talk to me about life, or crushes, or even something as trivial as a tv show plot. Thank you for coming with me to explore new places, and for showing me what things I might have been missing that was right in front of me. Thank you for showing me your perspectives on life, even when they were vastly different.

Thank you for loving me even when I felt unlovable. For knowing who I am as a person and never giving up on me, even if it seemed easier at the time. Thank you for reminding me of every good thing you had learned about me since the day we met- how you have ten years of experience in what my heart looks like. Thank you for cheering me on when I couldn’t take another step, and for being my biggest supporter through everything.

Thank you for not allowing the changes in life to tear us apart. Whether it was distance, relationships, new jobs, new opportunities, or just hectic schedules, you stayed consistent in maintaining our friendship. Smaller things than these can tear people apart without trying, and yet you were always willing to fight for this friendship to survive. And we’re better for it- we’ve learned how to speak up for what is important to us. You taught me when it means to be dependable and thoughtful, even when everything else around you isn’t.

Thank you for choosing to be in my life for the past ten years. You’ve changed my life for the better, and I can’t wait to celebrate the next decade with you.