Have you ever just been in one of those super sappy moods where you want to tell everybody how much you love them? That’s me right now, so this is my love note to all the amazing people in my life, and another thank you to the old friends who pushed me to move on and find these women I call my best friends today.

I am 100% confident in saying that I have some of the most amazing people in my life. It has definitely not always been that way though. Just like everybody, I have a fair share of old friends who I am so glad I don’t associate myself with anymore. But now I am literally on cloud 9 and extremely grateful for those I am close with now.

I can go on and on about how you need to surround yourself with people who motivate and empower you. If you don’t aspire to be more like your friends, then why invest all your time in them? Why would you waste your time and energy being with people who don’t make you want to be the very best version of yourself. Invest your time building connections with those who believe that you can move mountains. Invest your energy in the people who will be right by your side while you’re trying to move those mountains, because those who are there for you during your hardest times, are just the right people to keep around.

I have been in multiple friendships where the other person would get jealous of my success. This never made any sense to me. How could you be upset with your “friends” success? I can think of so many girls I know who are in this exact situation right now, and my advice to them is to distance yourself!! They are not a true friend if they don’t believe that you can have your own successes. Your friends should be equally as excited about you crushing life and help you celebrate every small victory, even if it is just getting an “A” on a hard exam. They should be your ultimate hype man! They should be the people you go to for a little self-esteem boost. Friends should not rain all over your parade when you’re accomplishing your goals.

One thing I have been learning is that spending your precious time and energy on somebody who doesn’t reciprocate the same way is exhausting. They say that you either grow with somebody or grow apart and I full heartedly agree with that statement. It sucks to grow apart from people who you were once so close with, but in the end, everything always happens for a reason. The reason may be to protect your future self from drowning in their negativity or unambitious lifestyle, or the reason may be to make room for new friends who will ultimately have a more positive effect on your life. It isn’t a bad thing to cut ties with people if you do it in an effective way. I have old friends that I still talk to occasionally and its great! Even if we aren’t talking every single day and together constantly doesn’t mean that I don’t wish the absolute best for them. I will always be their biggest fans and root for their successes.

Recently, I have been becoming closer with people who have been lifting me up and pushing me to become the best version of myself. I have been choosing to surround myself with people who motivate me, rather than people who just didn’t fit my lifestyle anymore. Like I previously stated, surround yourself with those who make you feel like you can conquer the world, not like you’re a burden.

In all the craziness of life, friends are there to help you through it all. They should be there when you need a shoulder to cry on, or to hold you when you’re at an all-time low. Therefore, I am so extremely thankful for those I have in my life. The girls who continue to believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself, or who are always there to make you smile on your darkest days. As I keep growing and becoming the woman I am meant to become, I am realizing the importance of true/healthy friendships and it will be something that I continue to aim for and work on from this point on, and you should too!