The Seasons of Friendships

The Seasons of Friendship: Growing, Changing, and Finding Your People

Friendships are a lot like the seasons—each one beautiful in its own way, each one necessary, and each one changing just when you think you’ve got it figured out. Some friendships are like old oak trees, strong and unwavering, with deep roots that weather every storm. Others are like wildflowers, blooming brightly for a season and then fading, leaving behind something lovely but not meant to last forever.

I’ve lived through a few seasons of friendship now, and looking back, I can see how each one shaped me, carried me, and brought exactly what I needed at the time.

The High School Friends: Where It All Began

High school friends are like your first car. It didn’t matter if it was unreliable or needed duct tape to hold it together—it gave you freedom, adventure, and some of the best memories of your life. These friends knew you before you had a credit score, before responsibilities weighed you down, back when a “bad day” meant running out of Sun-In before your highlights were fully baked.

These are the people who knew the younger version of you—the one with big dreams, questionable fashion choices (acid-washed jeans and Keds, anyone?), and the belief that every major life event deserved a perfectly crafted mixtape. They knew the pre-adult you, the one who could stay out all night with nothing but a Dr Pepper and sheer determination keeping you awake.

And no matter how much time passes, when you see them, it’s like slipping on your old varsity jacket—it still fits, maybe a little snugger than before, but the comfort is undeniable.

The College Friends: The Wild Stories and the “Remember When” Moments

Then come the college friends. These friendships are like a great road trip—you didn’t always know where you were going, but you knew you were in it together. These are the friends who sat with you in late-night diners, solved the world’s problems over cheap coffee, and believed that last-minute cramming counted as "studying."

They remember the time you pulled an all-nighter for an exam you still failed (turns out, actual sleep is important). They remember your first heartbreak, your questionable dating choices, and the time you swore off caffeine only to cave three hours later.

You don’t see them as often now—maybe you live in different states, maybe life has pulled you in different directions—but when you do, it’s as if no time has passed. You still tell the same stories, laugh at the same inside jokes, and remind each other of the people you were before adulting took over.

The Parenthood Friends: Your Survival Team

Then comes the season of raising kids, and with it, the survival squad—these friendships are like lifeboats in a stormy sea of diapers, tantrums, and never-ending piles of laundry.

These are the friends who bring you coffee when you’ve had two hours of sleep, who pretend not to notice that you haven’t showered in three days, and who understand that an uninterrupted phone conversation is a luxury. You raise your kids together, swap hand-me-down clothes, take turns watching each other’s children, and reassure one another that yes, four-year-olds are tiny dictators, and no, you are not failing at motherhood.

And then, one day, the kids grow up. And suddenly… the friendships shift.

The Midlife Friendships: The Season of Change

This is the season no one prepares you for—the season when you realize that while you still love your old friends, things have changed. Some friendships, once as effortless as your favorite worn-in jeans, now feel a little tight, a little faded.

Life happened. People changed.

And then one day, you look around and realize… I need new friends.

It’s a bit like learning to ride a bike again—awkward, slightly terrifying, and a lot harder than you remember. (And this time, falling hurts a lot more.) Making friends in midlife means stepping outside of your comfort zone, introducing yourself to strangers, and figuring out where you fit now that you’re no longer bonded by playdates and PTA meetings.

It’s humbling, yes. But then, slowly, it happens. You find new people who understand this season you’re in—people who don’t need you to be who you used to be, but who love and appreciate the person you’ve become.

Friendships Through Every Season

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that friendships evolve just like we do. Some friends are like heirloom quilts, passed down through generations, always there to wrap you in warmth when you need them most. Others are like your favorite book—you may not revisit it often, but when you do, it’s just as good as you remembered.

And while it can be bittersweet to watch old friendships change, it’s also a reminder that we are still growing, still evolving, still becoming.

So, here’s to the friends from every season—the ones who have shaped us, carried us, and laughed with us through every version of ourselves. And here’s to the new friendships we haven’t even made yet.

Because no matter how old we are, no matter what season we’re in, there’s always room for one more seat at the table.