There are some friendships that at certain times in our life seem like they are the most important thing in this world. Like you couldn’t imagine a day without this person knowing your every move, your every thought, being THIS close to you as they are in this moment.

Sometimes these friendships last the test of time. Often they don’t hold their sparkle, and time and distance can take you both in new directions and you find that when reunited with that person who once knew you better than you knew yourself, they don’t seem to get you at all anymore.

The mistake so many of us make is mourning this change, mourning the loss of that once unpenetratable bond which seemed stronger than any other before it. But people come into our lives at different times for a reason. They are there to serve a purpose, to show you what you’re capable of feeling, to lift you out of a dark time, or to show you what you can endure. These fleeting bonds make us who we are. They mould our futures.

Other friendships go through the natural cycle of change: from strangers to acquaintances, from best friends and then sometimes to enemies, to best pals again and then as time carries on, to distant friends who rarely touch base… And then you catch up again, and it’s like no time has passed. Conversation flows, laughter erupts and it’s like you’re back in that moment where it was the two of you against the world. It’s magical.

Don’t mourn the cycle of change in friendships. By closing one door, you allow others to open. These bonds, whether they last as long as you expected or fizzle out at the first sign of a storm coming, all happen for a reason.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have many people in my life whom I am lucky enough to have called my best friend at some point in my life. Some of them still hold that title, others are a memory of a happy time and are now not much more than an awkward phone call away. But all of them were precious to me in their prime, and will always hold a spot in my heart. I am so grateful to every person who I have shared that feeling with – us against the world.

Take the time to let an old friend know how much you care for them – we all like to hear that we are special to those whom we consider important in our lives. I caught up with an old friend today who I’ve known for longer than I can even remember, and I value moments like these even more now, as most of my encounters these days involve “telling my story” to new friends. Which is all part of the cycle; some of these new friends will be unforgettable inclusions in my memories one day.

But it’s the old friends who always hold my heart. You know who you are… I love you all. That is my thought for the day

- Belle