It’s so heartbreaking when you hear that your best friend is moving away. Or perhaps you’re moving away from your best friend. Whichever way around, you’ll worry about the possibility of the two of you growing apart.
You know what? You will grow apart. No amount of effort will change that. However, it’s not the end of the world (that’s a promise).
Maybe you’ve been at school together for the last seven years and have been inseparable since the awkward age of 11. Now you’re 18 and both heading off to uni at other sides of the country.
Maybe one of your parents got a new job and you’re moving away and have to start a new school. Or maybe you yourself have got a job that’s taking you to a different county. No matter why it’s happening, things are going to change… and probably not for the better as far as that special friendship is concerned.
BUT obviously, you can stay close. You may not be inseparable anymore but you’re not going to lose all your inside jokes. You’re not going to forget about each other. You just have to put in more effort.
Whether you use Skype, FaceTime or Facebook, video calls are the answer. In this day an age, it’s easy to chat for hours from opposite sides of the country. And it’s free so there’s nothing to stop you from having weekly catch ups. Or maybe daily catch ups are more your thing. Why not video call while you’re cooking your tea? You could even watch the same show at the same time and feel like you’re watching it together.
But don’t force it. Only talk when you want to talk. Not calling every day won’t suddenly end your friendship!
It’s normal to feel sad or anxious but the more you think about it, the more it’ll get you down. You can’t change anything, so don’t stress out. You’ll make yourself paranoid if you dwell on the fact you’re going to grow apart. It’s not as simple as pretending it’s not happening – you’ll definitely feel their lack of presence – but you don’t have to torture yourself by thinking about it constantly.
So many people live far away from their friends. Every year, thousands of teenagers move away to university, move away from their best friends. And every year, thousands of people manage a long-distance friendship. You know in your heart that if your friendship matters, you’re not going to end up as strangers.
If they’re suddenly at the other side of the country, that’s somewhere else to explore. Get on the train and go and stay for a weekend. Take a trip around their new city. Or they can do the same to yours and you can give them a tour. It’s not like you’ll never see them again and those reunions will be bittersweet.
You’re not alone. You’re not being unfaithful to your best friend if you’re spending lots of time with other people. Your friend wouldn’t want you being lonely after all! And don’t fear you’re being replaced at the other side of the county. There’s no replacing a best friend.
Sure, for now, you’re not going to see them often but in a year’s time, you might be reunited full time. Once uni is over in three years, you might both move back to your home town. You don’t know what life will throw at you so don’t let it get you down.
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