Struggles of Growing Up

I recently discovered that a tragedy, which I believed was inflicted only upon me, troubles others too. I am overjoyed. Not to be a sadist but I am overjoyed !! *big goofy grin*

So what is this tragedy you ask? It's this - 'If you aren't losing friends, you aren't growing up.'

We move through our lives at a particular pace. There are pre-defined stages, junctures of life, which we reach as we grow. Sort of like, milestones. Some reach it sooner and some tad bit slowly. In comparison to my circle, I belong to the 'tad bit slowly' category. While my friends are taking up bigger responsibilities, I am swinging between the basics such as, to change a job or not to change? To quit & travel or not? To take a plunge into the unknown or not? Am I who I am or not?

My friends have moved forward towards what we call, domestic life. They've either found or have been introduced to their soul mates.Over teary eyed and nostalgic pre-wedding parties, there were stories (read: embarrassing stories) told, over and over again of how we've seen each other through crap (for lack of better word) of life. How we've grown up together and hopefully wiser, all the while stumbling over a few rocks and using others to kick some ass :) There were promises made of keeping the bond alive. Promises of being the same people. But somewhere in the whirlwind days of the wedding and starting a new life, those promises started to gather dust. Unknowingly, the responsibilities, the new ties began to gnaw at old relationships. In retrospect, it seems that the wedding was, in guise, a farewell - a last celebration of the friendship that was. The ideologies change and the topics of gossip take a drastic makeover. And before you know it, despite efforts from both sides, the silent gaps in conversations start ascending. New family, new friends start to mutely take over.

Don't get me wrong. I am not blaming anyone here. No judgments. Each new phase brings a new change. And one can only adapt to survive it.

I am humbly reminiscing here. Being a person of the past, my heart aches watching close ones drifting away. But then seeing them content in their new beginning, the heart feels happy too.

Funny creature this heart is.