Navigating Long-Term Friendships: The 7-Year Itch Explained
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Chapter 1: The Origins of Friendship
My closest friend and I first crossed paths in our 10th-grade math class. We quickly connected over our shared love for food; having just finished a food studies class, I often brought in my culinary experiments. My friend, a fellow food enthusiast, made sure I didn’t have to lug any leftovers home after school.
Initially, we weren’t the best of friends; we were merely classmates. She transferred out of our high school in 11th grade, and we lost touch for about a year. It wasn’t until the summer before our senior year that fate intervened—we found ourselves on the same public bus.
During that bus ride, I learned that she lived just a five-minute ride from my home, and she invited me over to her apartment on a whim. We spent the entire afternoon sharing our secrets and getting to know each other better. This was the moment our journey to becoming best friends began; I was 16, while she was 17.
Over the next few years, we celebrated life together, dancing the night away at various clubs and sharing our dating stories over Chinese takeout at our favorite spot. It felt as if we were soulmates—truly, the best of friends!
Section 1.1: The Turning Point
As we entered our twenties, life took us in different directions, leading us to relocate to separate cities. Although we tried to maintain our connection through the internet, the distance—or perhaps the so-called "7-year itch"—began to take its toll. I felt that my life had changed so drastically that our friendship could no longer survive. In a moment of rashness, I decided to cut ties and essentially “ghosted” her.
While she was still enjoying the carefree party lifestyle, I was transitioning into adulthood. I swapped my party outfits for professional attire. Eventually, she reached out to understand why I had blocked her and stopped communicating.
We spent a year in a state akin to “ex-best friends,” similar to a trial separation in a marriage. I can’t remember who initiated contact after that year apart, but I believe it was I who reached out first, expressing how much I missed our friendship and how regretful I felt.
Fortunately, she felt the same way; life was not quite the same without our bond. We rekindled our friendship and reclaimed our titles as best friends. Now, we’re celebrating nearly 30 years of ups and downs together in this rollercoaster of relationships.
The video "Navigating Changing, Long-Term Friendships (S4E49) | ShrinkChicks with Jen & Em" delves into how to maintain friendships over time, exploring the challenges and joys that come with evolving relationships.
Section 1.2: The 7-Year Itch in Friendships
In conclusion, I firmly believe that the 7-year itch can also apply to friendships. It seems that our seventh year together was tumultuous, but we emerged from it stronger—like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
If you found this narrative engaging, I invite you to check out my previous stories on friendships linked below.
Chapter 2: The Value of Genuine Friendships
During my school years and throughout college, the emphasis was often on having a large circle of friends and being well-liked. However, I've come to realize that it's the quality of friendships that truly matters, not the quantity.
The video "Let's Chat: Maintaining Long-Term Friendships | Friendship Values | Life Stages & Changes & more…" highlights the importance of genuine connections and how to navigate friendship through various life changes.