At 70, I’ve come to understand that life is like the changing of seasons—people come into your life, and they leave, just like the weather. Some arrive like spring—warm, fresh, and full of hope. Others, like winter storms, come without warning, heavy and sudden, and they’re gone just as quickly.
When I was younger, I assumed that everyone I loved would always be there. Childhood friends, neighbors, even family members. But, over time, many of them faded away. Jobs pulled them in different directions. Time and distance created gaps that turned into silence.
At first, it hurt. Each goodbye felt like a little piece of me was lost. I would sit on my porch, wondering if I had done something wrong—if I wasn’t enough to keep people close.
But then, one evening, everything changed.
My oldest friend, Clara, stopped by. We’ve been friends since we were twelve. We don’t talk every day, and sometimes not even every month. But when she sat beside me, it was as if no time had passed at all. We laughed at the same jokes, finished each other’s sentences, and I realized something: Some people never really leave.
They may not always be physically present, but they’re always there for you.
And that’s when it clicked for me. Life isn’t about holding on to everyone. It’s about recognizing those who truly hold on to you. The ones who pick up the phone at midnight. The ones who remember your birthday without a reminder. The ones who see your heart, not just your smile.
Now, when people drift away, I don’t chase after them. I let them go with love. Because I know the ones who are meant to stay—the real ones—will always find their way back to me.
So if you’re feeling lonely because someone has left, remember this: Life has a way of sorting out who truly belongs in your life. Not everyone is meant to stay forever, but the ones who do? They’re worth more than a thousand who don’t.