Why do Friends Drift Apart?

 Today I came across a piece of writing that explores the reasons of why friendship ends, after reading it I felt a bit emotional. This article seemed written for me.  As if the writer knows about my restless thoughts recently.

For days, I had this big question mark floating over my head, wondering why I am losing my friends. Even the most devoted ones whom I thought will always be there for me are also joining the trend. I feel that everyone is drifting away and it seems like I am sailing alone in the darkness of a vast ocean. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what went wrong. Did I say something or did I do something that hurt and offend them?  Or did I fail to do something that I should have done? I know I am not an outgoing person and I could be boring at times. But I know I have a good heart and that I feel I don’t deserve their cold shoulders. I hate to sing my own praises but I am a friend who is always there not just in good times but in bad times as well. I never abandon a friend in need.  But where are they now when the tide turns? They seemed to disappear one by one.

The article that I’ve just read made me understand my emotional struggle. It reminds me that life is comprised of stages of different journeys.

When you start a new journey, relationships may drift apart. Some friends come along with you in your journey, while some don’t.  Do not be upset with them if they won’t come with you; for it’s not their journey. For those who do not come with you traversed a different direction.  When you and your friend no longer share something in common or now in two different places in life, closeness will slowly dissipate. Sometimes, along the way, you will meet at the crossroads and pick up the friendship again and sometimes not.  It’s nobody’s fault, that’s how life works.

But don’t worry for you will meet more people along your way that are a more suited for where you are today. And they’ll become your new friends.  Always be grateful to the friends who came with you on different parts of your journey. They were there for a purpose, to make each stage of your life meaningful. Sometimes our role in each other’s life will end, if that happens don’t be sad but cherish the good memories. No matter where you are, no matter what comes through life, keep going, do not stop the journey!

 Enjoy the voyage…

 

Good Luck and Bye for Now

I got a text from my sister yesterday informing me that my niece will be leaving for Manila early next day. She is bound for Saudi to work as a nurse there. The news was not unexpected; I just didn’t expect that she will be leaving that soon. I was still going to see her on the weekend, but now all I can do is to send her a text wishing her well and the best of luck on her new journey. I have another niece who has been working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia for a year now and probably early next year another niece will be leaving to U.S. to join her husband who works as a nurse there.

Ironically, now that I am back here in the country, it seems that everyone is leaving. Well, I can’t blame them, for some time now; Filipinos have been leaving the country to seek greener pastures on foreign shores. Our government is not doing enough to provide opportunities for our people here. The new nursing graduates faces uncertainty towards their future because of oversupply of nurses nowadays. Opportunities are getting scarce and hard to find, jobs abroad are now stiffer in their requirements. You have to have at least two years experience to apply for a nursing job abroad, other countries requires you to take more years of schooling in nursing before you can qualify to work as a nurse in their country. My two nieces were lucky enough, as new grads, they were able to find a nursing job overseas though it’s in the Middle East which is not their first choice, it is still a good opportunity to gain some experiences and use it as a stepping stone towards their goal. During these hard times you need to take advantage of whatever opportunities come your way. My advice to them, take charge of your future, your dreams are within your grasp now, take advantage and reach for it.

So, to my nieces out there, good luck, be happy, stay safe and bye for now. Someday soon we’ll see each other again. Take care always! I will miss you for sure!

P.S.

I wrote this article 2 years ago for my friendster blog. To update, one of my nieces is now back home, while the other is now working in Canada.