The Changing Tides of Friendship
Anonymous • November 17, 2020
You sat there without a voice, and my heart broke for you...
The sun beamed on us as we blasted music and shared a laugh in the car. You in the driver’s seat, steering us towards an afternoon of adventure. It was just like always, like what had been before was on pause several acts ago in the movie.
It all changed that winter. A shift that I’d known was coming, but that I didn’t want to believe. I worried that if I truly acknowledged the obvious, that it would will it true, even though it was already happening. You’d always been my rock, my mentor. But It was time to shift into a different role.
That’s the thing about friendship. It takes on many forms, and evolves to fit many circumstances.
There were the times where it was difficult, where I didn’t know where things sat. Where I felt like my primary role was carer, as opposed to friend. It was a hard road to navigate, but through road blocks and rocky terrain we got there.
You sat there without a voice, and my heart broke for you. I would show up for you, the same way you’d shown up for me.
It felt like a whirlpool, like a ping pong ball being hit in every direction as I tried to stay balanced. I mourned for the past, but came to accept the present. Piece by piece we built it together.
Through waves of emotional distress, hardship, surprises, admission and heartbreak, I watched you rise, each time more resilient than the last. And I watched you flourish and utilise these experiences, using your diversity to make a mark, and a big one at that.
I’ve seen you with such vacancy behind your eyes that it felt like you were living in a whole different world, lost and confused. I’ve also seen you thriving and lighting up the world with your smile and bright aura. Smiles and laughter in your wake, an incomparable warmth in your smile. We’ve seen each other through the highs, the plateaus, and whatever else lies in between.
Just because there are new layers, doesn’t mean a new you. I’m no longer afraid to seek advice, to add to your plate, or your burdens. We are equals, each with our own unique challenges and hardships that we can help each other through.
Finding the balance in our friendship wasn’t a straight road, but a windy one less travelled. But we got there. Change can be displacing, but in this case it proved to be enhancing. Here we are now, stronger than ever and seldom a worry not shared. It really feels like we’ve been through it all.
I guess that’s just us.
This World Mental Health Day, GenMH sponsored GULI's powerful Mental Health Sensitization Seminar at Egerton University Main Campus.
On 30th September 2024, Generation Mental Health hosted a powerful webinar on suicide awareness and prevention, bringing together twenty participants with unique perspectives on mental health. The session, though intimate, resonated deeply, offering participants a space to discuss the critical role of media in shaping public perception of suicide, and how narratives of hope and recovery can drive change.