I never stopped to consider that on the last day of high school, I was saying goodbye to dozens of people for the last time. And I wasn’t prepared for the same exact thing to happen when I left college. Don’t get me wrong—I’m perfectly content with the small circle of friends I still have at the ripe age of 23. But there’s a level of discomfort in knowing that I will likely never again see so many of the people I spent my formative years with.  It makes me reflect on the way people walk in and out of our lives—some meant to stay, others meant to help guide us through a specific chapter before continuing on their own path.

I once read a quote that said: we are all just walking each other home. We meet thousands of people throughout our lives, most of whom won’t be there in the end— and that’s okay. But every single person we cross paths with—whether we realize it or not— plays s a role in shaping the lives we choose to lead.

This idea, that so many of the people we meet won’t be with us forever, carries a certain impermanence. But instead of inviting sadness, I think it invites empathy. Every interaction, no matter how small, has the power to shape both people involved for good. Relationships are the cornerstone of my life and my interests—without connection, without the comfort of others, life would feel empty. And no matter how different we may seem from one another, we are all interconnected.

I don’t regret meeting the people I no longer speak to. I don’t regret friendships that have faded. Even those who are no longer in my life played a role in shaping who I am today. 

Sometimes, someone’s absence teaches you more than their presence ever did.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past few months is that the people who are meant to stay are the ones who leave your ‘bucket filled’. The concept seems simple enough, but it’s easy to overlook just how much energy some relationships drain from us. Sometimes, you don’t realize the weight someone was placing on you—or the energy they were taking—until you step back and reassess, or until they are not longer a part of your life. 

To Those Who Walked With Me for a While:

So to those who were once a part of my life but no longer are, this letter is for you…

Even though we parted ways and silence has settled where there was once familiarity, you have shaped me into the person I am today. Whether our time together was fleeting or lasted years, it mattered. You mattered. Thank you—for teaching me what I couldn’t have learned on my own, for showing me the parts of myself that I love and the ones I still want to change. Thank you for walking with me through moments I wouldn’t have gotten through alone. Your presence, even if temporary, did not go unnoticed. I hope you’re okay. I hope life is kind to you. And if we truly are all just walking each other home, I hope, in some way, I brought you comfort along the way.