I’ve been thinking about how certain groups of people only exist in phases. Like, timed communities. A set of people that are part of your everyday for a while, and then… they’re not.
Back in 2020, I had my tennis crew. We’d hang out from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., just looping between tennis courts, brunch spots, and someone’s living room. No plans, no clock, just vibes. We didn’t overthink it. It just worked.
But the phase ended. Naturally. People got busy, moved, picked up new routines. And we never really talked about it, it just faded. I’ve been reminded of that feeling recently.
Someone I used to speak to regularly doesn’t speak to me anymore. Apparently because my company launched a product that’s in the same space as theirs. I don’t even own the company. But somehow, that was enough to pause the relationship. No argument, no call, just… silence.
I think about how often this happens. Especially at work. You get close to colleagues – Slack chats turn into after-work drinks, random memes, personal updates. Then someone leaves the company and that bond quietly disappears. Not because you stopped liking each other. Just because the timer ran out.
And honestly, it makes sense. We have a limited amount of time and energy, and not every relationship will make the cut forever. Life reshuffles your priorities, and your community changes with it.
It’s not personal. It’s just timing.
So yeah, maybe instead of holding onto everything, it’s better to just enjoy the time it worked, then make space for whatever and whoever comes next.
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