That’s the type of people I… grew up with. Whewww did I learn tons of lessons about friendship.

Throughout elementary/middle school – I’ve had my fair share of betrayals. “Friends” that have lied on me, purposefully embarrassed me, and isolated me. Sometimes I didn’t even realized that my “friends” had played me until I went home and thought about it. For a while, I felt like friendships were just roller coasters. Everything was good until it wasn’t and I found myself at the poor end of a joke. It was exhausting and unsettling.

Then there were the “friends” who were only cool with you in certain places and in front of certain people. I came to accept that the same people I talk to in school might not talk to me if they see me on the street. They definitely won’t speak if they see me in front of their friends. It was what it was. And what it was… was draining and diminishing.

I have had to let people go, push them away, and actually stand for something when it came to my friendships. It wasn’t worth it to spend time with people I had absolutely zero trust in. I had to be the one to establish the type of people I was going to connect with. I had to remain firm in the way I was going to be treated in my relationships with others. This has made all the difference.

Ultimately, we were all young and maturing. I do not hold ill feelings against anyone because I was never perfect. There are some friends (as well as best friends/sisters) that I still love to death today. There are some people that I pray for continuously and hold deep in my heart. I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for the ability I now have to learn people. I have always had an uncanny sense of intuition but my experiences allowed me to really understand others. It doesn’t take me long to feel a person’s intentions. I have come to peace with knowing when to take a step back from people on my own terms.

I am super grateful to be able to appreciate the genuine relationships I have. When you have spent years without them – you do not take your loved ones for granted. You use all your heart to invest in people who invest in you. You learn life.

I WISH I KNEW

  • Not everyone has my best interest.
  • Set boundaries with people in my life.
  • I control the treatment I accept and the relationships that I hold on to.
  • Better times and meaningful friendships are out there.

Have you had rough experiences with fake friends? How has that changed you? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments!