It's never too late to reconnect

Life gets busy.

[Boy if that isn’t the biggest understatement]

Days turn to weeks, weeks turn to years, and within the blink of an eye, it’s been a decade since you’ve spoken to your friends from college. You know, the ones you swore you’d never lose touch with.

I admittedly have more than a few friendships I’ve let go by the wayside. Some I’m better off without. Those ‘friendships’ were never great in the first place, so it’s not surprising when they don’t stand the test of time. The people who seem to leave you feeling more drained than full after spending time together. There’s a reason those relationships fizzle out over time.

But then there are people I still think fondly of, who cross my mind frequently even after not speaking for over a decade. You see, I’m not the best at keeping in touch, and despite the fact I’ve known this about myself for years, I have yet to really do anything to rectify the situation. Not to say that I don’t think of these lost friendships on a regular basis, but more that I don’t turn those thoughts into actions. I swear if people only knew how often I think of them and miss them, they may begin to think I’m borderline creepy. But I’m not, I just care (too much?) about people.

Left unnurtured for so long, I generally begin thinking of these relationships as ‘past’ friendships, because I’m simply too ashamed or embarrassed to reach back out. Do they actually care that we never talk anymore? Do they even remember who I am? Will they ask why I didn’t get my act together and reach out sooner? These are the thoughts that run through my mind and inevitably result in my silence.

Thankfully, the people who are meant to be in your life eventually find their way back to you. True friendship, in my opinion at least, is the ability to pick back up where you left off… even if it means catching each other up on the last fifteen years of your lives!

Recently on one of my morning walks, I was thinking of a final exam project I completed back when I was in school for Dietetics. The project was quite the undertaking and rather difficult, as were all the classes by this particular professor. What I remember most, aside from this particular exam and the difficulty of her classes, was how much this professor genuinely enjoyed teaching. She taught with such gusto and enthusiasm that I still think fondly of making my way through the complex material. I finished my walk with a smile on my face, and instead of lingering on the thought, I pulled out my computer and googled her name. I found her e-mail address and promptly wrote to her letting her know how much of an impact her teaching left on me. And you know what? She wrote back!

A similar experience happened over the summer when I had a friend from college take the time to reconnect with me, and I once again cannot imagine my life without her. Her persistence in trying to find me was impressive (my phone number has changed since college and I don’t use Facebook), and quite honestly made me feel so special. After many hours of catching up, which were filled with laughter and tears, I couldn’t help but be upset with myself for letting this person go and never taking the time to reconnect. Not intentionally, obviously, but again life gets busy.

What I’m trying to say is it’s never too late to reconnect. Maybe your efforts won’t result in a rekindled friendship, but hey if you're still thinking of them after so many years, then it’s certainly worth a try. Who knows, maybe you’ve been on their mind just as much as they’ve been on yours. That was the case for me and my friend Leslie, and I cannot express just how happy I am to call her my friend again!