- UNITE Editorial
Friendships & How To Maintain Them
I used to think that by the time I turn into a semi-adult, I would sort of already have my life together. But here I am, at a grand age of 21, still grappling with the whole idea of friendship and how to actually be a friend. (Not a far cry from problems I used to face in my prepubescent years.)
We pride ourselves on productivity, taking up new opportunities and tackling new challenges. Our to-do list boasts a never-ending repertoire of unchecked boxes, which somehow goes on forever. We're always hustling and bustling with things to do, and the constant moving about leaves us dead tired by the end of the day. What is it about the paper chase that gets us so riled up? We don't know, but we chase after it anyway.
We used to meet up with friends in our spare time, but when 24 hours is barely sufficient, where does this time even come from? One could say sleep but how many more hours of sleep can we cut before we turn into malfunctioning zombies? This is especially when we are boggled down by constant deadlines and project meetings. It can be suffocating and really draining.
When free time becomes so elusive, how many of us would still go the extra mile to reach out to those around us?
Somewhere in-between the throng of commitments and the pressures of work-life balance that have no-doubt became a necessity, our priorities naturally realigned and friendship was unfortunately relegated to the backseat.
Instead of making plans in advance, we now "slot in" our meet-ups into any leftover time from scheduling our academic-related affairs. And when friendships become a matter of mere convenience, we can go for months without seeing or contacting one another. No one is to blame though. I guess we are all simply growing up.
When you're constantly running on borrowed time, it's not easy trying to balance everything on your plate. And when it begins to feel like each of us are waging our own wars, it’s easy to close ourselves off from the world. But I guess one of the beauties of friendship is that you grow together.
Friends are the people who've seen you at your best, and picked you up at your worst. You've watched each other grow and even went through the notions of life together.
So, if you find yourself struggling with it all, chances are your friend is too.
"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit." ―Aristotle
Yes, we are no longer blessed with the abundance of time. But as long as both parties are willing to try and keep the spark glowing, I'm sure the sincerity will pull through at the end of the day. Because even if we grow apart, I believe that everything is going to be alright as long as we still find a way back to each other.