Recently, a family member faced a heart-wrenching moment when he stumbled upon an obituary for one of his childhood best friends. They had grown up together, sharing countless memories, but life had pulled them apart over the years. The news of his friend’s untimely passing served as a painful reminder of how easily we can lose touch.
Often, we intend to reach out, but life gets in the way. We assume our friends are busy, just as we are—putting off those calls or messages until tomorrow, or the next day, or maybe next year. But what if we decided to act today instead?
I experienced something similar when I had a crucial question that only one person could answer: an old high school friend named Sarah. Though we hadn’t seen each other since graduation—ages ago—we’d occasionally exchanged messages on social media. I decided to take the plunge and give her a call. Hearing her familiar voice was a delightful blast from the past.
“You’ve got an accent now!” she playfully remarked as we reacquainted ourselves. We delved into my question, which she answered, then continued chatting for an additional twenty minutes while I sat parked in a Target lot. We reminisced about our lives, discussed parenthood, and even made plans for a future collaboration inspired by our conversation.
While I had maintained close ties with a few friends from college, I realized how much I missed those childhood connections. My husband had a wealth of friends from various stages of his life, while my own early friendships had faded into distant memories. This realization pushed me to reconnect with Sarah, and I’m so glad I did.
Since that initial call, Sarah has become a vital part of my life again. Now, even though we’re miles apart, I often find myself thinking, “I need to share this with Sarah.” We check in with each other regularly, and those little messages have reignited our bond.
Truthfully, I could have easily sent her a Facebook message for the answer to my question, but I took the leap and called instead. I’m grateful for that decision every single day.
The reality is that your old friend, whom you haven’t spoken to in years, is likely still around, and reaching out could lead to a wonderful reconnection. Even if it doesn’t blossom into a renewed friendship, you’ll at least gain the joy of catching up. I had a similar experience when I reached out to a former college friend; we spent half an hour discussing important matters and then enjoyed over an hour simply catching up, which filled my heart with warmth.
These connections are significant, and they deserve a chance to flourish again. Perhaps you’ll find that while you’ve both changed, there are still shared interests and memories that bind you. One of my closest childhood friends, now living across the country, has evolved into a fellow “hippie mom,” and I cherish hearing about her life, even if we don’t communicate as often.
Every time I’ve reached out to an old friend, I’ve found it rewarding. Sure, occasionally I’ve faced silence, but more often than not, it enriches my life. In Sarah’s case, she was there for me when I faced tough times, just like she had been during our school days.
So why not take that leap? You might just rediscover a friendship that’s been waiting to be rekindled.
If you’re interested in other aspects of parenthood, there are great resources available, such as this one about what to expect with IUI. For more insights on home insemination, check out this blog post. And if you’re looking for an at-home insemination kit, Make a Mom has some excellent options.
In summary, reaching out to an old friend can be a rewarding experience that adds richness to your life, rekindling joy and connection that may have faded over the years.