Farewell or Goodbye
- Francesca
- Apr 18, 2021
- 1 min read
Updated: May 15, 2021
My parents met through high-school friends. Even to this day, after 50 years they hang out with the same old friends.
Looking at them, I feel a bit jealous.
Most of my friends are spread all over the world. Most of these friendships dissipated while very few others, even after long periods of silence, remain as strong as if there was no distance at all.
Still, every time someone is leaving, it feels like a piece of you is fading and the relationship will be forgotten in the blink of an eye. You can give it your best to maintain it, but every relationship is a two way channel and most of the times everyday life gets in the way with its unpredictable events.
It’s a lot of effort to get to know a person, and to open up and let them know you. As time passes, and people move out of our lives, we tend to become less and less willing to open up, surely missing out on meeting new shiny souls.
I used to think there were 2 choices: hold many superficial friendships, or hold fewer deep friendships. Recently I realized there is another choice: hold many strong friendships. While maintaining my very close friendships, I have been making the time to cast the net for new friendships, and in a city as diverse as Hong Kong I find people with whom I instantly connect. People who enrich my life. People who teach me more about the world. I hope the feeling is mutual! These friendships are strong not just because of our time or experience together, but by the way we hold conversations, share ideas, and provide emotional support. Because these friendships are defined this way, and because technology has…