Whenever I reflect on my past and present relationships, I think of this quote often. It gives me clarity and helps me to distinguish the ones that truly matter in my life, from those who don’t play such a big role.

We do meet everyone for a reason. Well, maybe not everyone, but most people. Even from the most brief encounter, people can teach us a thing or two. Inevitably, not all encounters will be positive ones. I’ve had my fair share of fall-outs and disagreements with people over the years. Looking back, those experiences are bittersweet as they were eventually instrumental into moulding my character and views. Sometimes it takes bad experiences to learn harsh truths, but these truths are almost always life-changing.

Those that you meet for a season, refers to the people that you are close to for just that specific phase in your life — be it the 4 years in secondary school, the 6 months of internship, etc. You bond over that shared chapter in your lives, but never quite align on the same wavelength after that. It is upsetting to realise that you no longer find common ground with the people you were once so close to. Nonetheless, do realise that lifelong friends are those that will continue to grow alongside you, even though you may not be experiencing the same chapter anymore. It is okay to let go. A good time with someone does not need to translate into forever.

Now, for my favourite part of the quote, those that we meet for a lifetime. The friends that feel like home, platonic soulmates, those who have loved the different versions of you. These people are what makes life worth living and it is important to keep them extra close. I am lucky that I have found the friends that I know will be around for a long, long time. Such connections are rare to come by but once they do, hold them tight.

I enjoy compartmentalising people into these ‘categories’ as it helps me to make sense of the connections I have in my life. It is important to recognise the ones that have stuck by you all along, so that you continue to cherish and uphold that relationship. On the flip side, it is also crucial to weed out the ones that no longer serve you, or those that you pour too much into, but they simply don’t return that same energy.

Life is short, find the ones who get you.