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Let’s rip off the Band-Aid: some of your friendships are nothing more than sentimental clutter. Yeah, I said it. You’re not still friends because of shared values, mutual growth, or some profound connection. Nope. You’re friends because, at some point in the distant past, you both liked *Mario Kart* and thought energy drinks were a personality trait.

Remember your childhood best friend? The one you swore would be your ride-or-die forever? Now they have become an over-woke over-sensitive political nut on Facebook, and you mute their stories because you can only handle so many angry quotes before you question your life choices. But you still grab coffee when they're in town because *memories,* right?

Here’s the thing: nostalgia is a hell of a drug. It tricks us into thinking we’re bonded by something deep when, really, we’re just emotionally attached to who we *were,* not who we *are.* We romanticize the inside jokes, the late-night talks, the bad haircuts captured in grainy photos—not the actual dynamic that exists now.

I had a friend, let’s call him Jake. Jake and I were inseparable in college. We survived brutal exams, questionable fashion choices, and a regrettable phase where we thought we could start a podcast. Fast forward to adulthood, and our “friendship” consisted of awkward small talk ('cause I'm too afraid of saying something he'll take offense to) and pretending to care about each other’s job updates. The emotional glue? Nostalgia. We weren’t friends anymore; we were just two people cosplaying as friends because the past said we should be.

Breaking that cycle was liberating. It didn’t mean I didn’t cherish those memories, but I realized I was holding onto a version of someone who no longer existed. And honestly, so was he.

So, ask yourself: if you met some of your friends today, would you even *like* them? Would you text them back, or would you ghost them like that one Hinge date who wouldn’t stop talking about cryptocurrency?

Friendship isn’t a participation trophy you get for showing up in someone’s life once upon a time. It should evolve, challenge you, and add value beyond reminiscing about that wild night in Vegas or the time you both failed algebra.

It’s okay to outgrow people. It doesn’t make you heartless; it makes you honest. Nostalgia might keep you warm, but genuine connection is what keeps you alive.

So, next time you’re debating whether to RSVP to that group hangout, ask yourself: am I going because I miss them or because I miss then?

#FriendshipRevival #NostalgiaAlert #SentimentalClutter #ToxicFriendships #MentalHealthMatters #ChildhoodMemories #FriendshipGoals