Glory Days

posted 7th September 2009 Written by: Robyn CATEGORY: All Posts, Love/Relationships, Quarterlife Crisis, Robyn, Season 1

core value friendships, remaining friends with your college friends, why women stay friends

3330435699_d3f3dc28dd Seasons, prices, apartments, jobs, opinions… even the nail polish on my toes—all subject to change.

While I typically believe that change is a positive thing and try to embrace it, it’s always comforting to know that, even amidst change, some things remain a constant in my life—my good friends.

I spent this past weekend reliving my glory days with my college roommates in Cleveland, OH. Even though we are states apart and rarely find the time for long phone conversations with lengthy updates on each others’ lives, we still manage to organize a couple weekends each year to get together and spend time catching up. It’s beyond refreshing to not have to solely rely on Facebook and Twitter to know what my friends are up to!

There’s never a problem picking up right where we left off—exchanging stories, seeking each others’ advice, talking nonstop, and reverting back to the giggly college girls we were three years ago. Reminiscing about the countless good times that were had “back in the day” and making plans for the future together made me think about our unique ties to one another.

This weekend made me wonder what it is that draws people together as friends initially and then what it is that continues to encourage friends to grow together despite distance and lives moving in completely different directions.

What initially draws you to a friend might be a shared experience or a love for the same band, similar interests and compatible viewpoints. However, I’ve decided that core values and basic common grounds are what remain constant in each individual, and that is what further bonds you to a person and makes for a lifelong friendship—all the rest is subject to change.

In my case, I think our core values are based on loyalty, respect, and unconditional support for one another. Sure, we all have a shared love for our alma mater, 80’s music and drunk dancing on rooftop bars, but we also have much deeper connections that make our friendship that much stronger.

While my roommates and I have gone through various changes in the past years—moving to new states, making career changes, moving in with boyfriends, going back to school—we have remained solid and are as close as ever because of our foundation.

It’s amazingly comforting to know that a group of friends can continue to grow together even as each person individually goes through life, encountering various changes throughout the years.