You and your best friend are inseparable until they get into a relationship. You guys would go out every weekend and speak on the phone almost everyday until this all changed once they got into a relationship. What was once quality time between friends, has been replaced with your friend’s partner.
It is understood that quality time is important in a relationship but you realize that they are slowly cutting off everyone in their life just for one person. It is obvious they are prioritizing their relationship over their friendships and other obligations. This is an unhealthy trait that not only affects the person in the relationship, but also the people around them.
Even though it is important to check in and spend time with your significant other, quality time with your friends should not be sacrificed. They were there for you before you got into a relationship, and if treated well, they will be there after the relationship.
Your life should not be entirely forced around your partner, which is something many teens struggle with. It is important to have a life outside of your relationship which means investing time into your family and friends. God forbid the relationship does not work out, those are the people you will run to for help, so treat them with the respect they deserve.
Jasmin Cordon, a student at Rutgers University, explains how being left behind by her friends in high school made her feel.
“I experienced this a lot during my early high school years where my friends were getting into relationships and I hadn’t experienced one yet. It always made me feel lonely and just made me want to have a boyfriend even more.” Cordon said. “ I think it also made me a bad friend, I would often find myself wishing bad upon my friends’ relationships so that when they broke up, I would have my friends back.”
She then goes on to say that once she got into her own relationship, she learned to make sure to still give attention to her friends and keep that balance.
“However, after experiencing this and now being in my own healthy relationship, it makes me want to act more aware of how I treat my friends who are single and don’t have someone they can turn straight to.”
Sometimes people do not realize what they are doing is wrong until they have become the friend left behind. It is never a good feeling and all someone needs to do is realize the distance they have built and it’s up to them to build it back up again. Every person learns from their mistakes and can only try to be better versions of themselves for a better future in both their relationship and friendship.
Each relationship is a lesson and regardless of what is going on it is important to remember who you are and to consider your friendships. It is always important to love yourself and the people around you. Everyone deserves equal treatment.
