Ending a friendship with someone is often treated like a horrible thing to do, something cruel and morally wrong. But these ideas are ignorant to the truth: some friendships simply do not last forever. Leaving a friendship in the past is not an action that automatically makes one dramatic, selfish, or in the wrong.

Everyone grows and changes as a person; values shift, priorities change, interests fade away… All of that is a normal, inevitable thing. Unfortunately, these changes can also lead to friendships becoming weaker. The person you once promised to be friends with forever may suddenly feel like a stranger. Maybe there was a change in personalities, or you realized that you two do not really agree with each other. In situations like these, it is better to just let the friendship go, rather than to hold onto it and hope it rebuilds itself. Staying in a friendship out of guilt or fear does not make you loyal, it just makes you stuck.

We villainize individuals that leave relationships because we fear endings. Humans fear the unknown and are uncomfortable with the idea of losing something that was once a comfort. Endings also indicate a loss of control, and control is something that we are naturally drawn to. Another thing is that ends force us to mature and move on, which is something that is difficult for many. Most people find themselves stuck in friendships, simply because they are not willing to step out of comfort zones. But time keeps on moving, and we are the only ones that can decide who we spend our lives with.

Of course, ending a relationship should not be careless and harsh. The most important thing is that you are honest, take accountability, and are kind about it overall.

Ending a friendship does not erase the previous memories. It does not mean that the relationship was fake. It just means that you are letting go of a fading connection, and that should not make you a villain.