When life gets in the way

Hi all,

So, don't worry... I'm not going to preach about "moving away shows who your true friends are", because in my opinion, no matter how close or how far apart you live, the key to fantastic friendships is the mutual understanding that:

life gets in the way

Everyone has read a text, and thought- I will reply to that later, I'm too busy unloading the shopping/doing the dishes/finishing an essay/on the phone to Mum/watching a really good film/half asleep/just simply can't be bothered to type back right now.

PLEASE NOTE:
This is not a crime.

Just like any other girl, I've picked up and thrown out friends along the way. It's a tricky process, some just seem to slip off the face of the Earth and you are left wondering if they are even still alive; others treat you like a doormat and you suddenly realise they need out! Some of my friends I have known forever, others only a short while; some I met whilst travelling; some through work- it doesn't matter how, or how long you have known a person for them to become a huge part of your life. They just need to fill a gap.

Fill a gap? Yes, well, I have this little theory whereby you have different friends for different things. Someone to laugh with; someone to cry with; someone for support; someone for a crazy night out... etc. etc. 

This picture is really special for me, as myself and two of my closest friends have "guardian angel" bracelets. 

Having friends who live all over the world, or who live round the corner but you just never seem to have the time to catch up with is just part of life. So I absolutely love the quote above because it just reminds me that I know they are there, but I don't have to speak to them alllll the time. And my very closest friends know exactly the same themselves.

Whatsapp

However, I have found that I have almost become closer to some of my friends. I have almost become more reliant on them than I was before! For this, I actually have "whatsapp" to blame. Whatsapp groups are brilliant. Anyone who is a member of one will be familiar with looking at their phone and seeing something like this:

Yes, this can be slightly frustrating when you are trying to do something and your phone is constantly going "buzzzzz buzzz"- put it on mute! It's wonderful because even when you are busy, and you don't have time to talk, someone else does and so you can just catch up on it later. It means that even though you're not always speaking directly to one another, you still know what's going on in their lives. 

I have a whatsapp group with two of my closest friends, and it has honestly become the "go-to" for me, if I have a problem- straight on there "girls... what do you think..."; if something funny has happened; just anything. It means that we are constantly in contact. And I absolutely love it. 

However, all three of our boyfriends have at some point complained that we spend too much time on our phones- but when you live so far away from each other- it just kind of happens!

Skype

This is another point of call when living away from loved ones. At first it seems a bit weird- the whole idea of needing to get your laptop out, and feeling like you should look nice... But actually, it's so precious. Since my friend Rosie moved to Paris, and I'm in Edinburgh, and Nicola (the one that adds terrible to the trio) is still down at home... we have spent hours on Skype to each other. Literally. 

It's wonderful, you can do other things at the same time, and it's just as if they are there in the room with you. And you loose track of time too! I think the average time I spend on Skype is roughly two and a half hours!!!

Life gets in the way

The real point though, is no matter how far apart you are, how busy your lives are. There are a handful of people who will be exactly the same when you see them next, whether you last spoke to them yesterday or three years ago. People you share a very special bond with. People who understand you to the core. And understand the key to friendship: 

knowing that life gets in the way.

I know the internet is littered with "friendship quotes", and I have to admit, my pinterest "Quotes" board, is one of my most frequently used.

Follow Jessie's Juicy Jargon "Quotes" on Pinterest.

So I'm not going to post a load of quotes on to here, you've been kept reading for long enough.

Just remember, when you can, when you have the time and life allows it. To send a little message telling those wonderful friends you have, that you love them.

And on that note, I wish you all a goodnight!

Thanks for reading!
Jessie x