I struggled how to write this article for a while, because it is so hard to put ten years of emotion into one piece of writing.
We became best friends ten years ago and what a journey it has been. It’s been filled with happiness, sadness and every other emotion in between. We literally grew up together. I am not sure if many people can say they have been best friends through every important stage of their life, but I am so thankful we can.
You have been there for me through every heartbreak, struggle, and triumph. I commend you for putting up with my hard-to-love self for so many years, and doing so with grace and pride most of the time. As we grew up, our lives began to take different directions and it was hard going from seeing each other almost every weekend for ten years, to being 300 miles apart. But we just took it with a grain of salt and kept going.Now that we’re twenty years old, we are both at such different places in life. There are more differences in our lives than similarities, and although that may scare some people, I could not be prouder of the women we are becoming. Yes, we both took extremely different paths into adulthood, but when I think of you, I can still picture us running around in my front yard during a rainstorm and laying in bed sick the next week. I can still see us doing spit-takes all over the car because we couldn’t stop laughing at something that probably wasn’t funny to anyone else. Our memories keep us connected while we try to find our place in this world.
By now you must know how important you are to me and that is never going to change. However, I have ten things I want you to remember. You mean the world to me, best friend, whether together or apart. Please remember these things and never stray from your heart while we are both trying to figure out this crazy thing we call life. Â
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You are stronger than you think. Pick your head up.
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Never forget where you came from.
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But please reach for your highest potential.
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Do not let anyone limit you. You are more than good enough.
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Do not be afraid to try something new. Your 20’s are about making mistakes and finding what makes you the happiest.
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Remember to not take life too seriously; let your hair down every now and then.
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Call your mom (and mine). They both love talking to you.
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Enjoy the crazy.
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I am only a text away.
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I love you endlessly.
As we continue to grow into our own people so far away from each other, please never forget that I am your biggest cheerleader. The times we’ve had within our friendship are some of my favorite memories and I could not imagine this crazy life without you in it. I am so excited to see what the next ten years hold for the both of us. I love you always, Bob.