Author: Sagesse Bezalel
You know, the ones who’ve seen you at your worst and your best, and still stick around. The ones who remember how awkward you were in school, the ridiculous outfits you used to wear, and the times you said things that made absolutely no sense. They’re the ones who can laugh at your most embarrassing moments and, somehow, make you laugh along with them. Old friends.
And the best part? You don’t have to pretend to be anything you’re not. With old friends, there’s no need to put on a cool act, no overthinking about your impressions or whether you’re saying the right thing. You can be raw, unfiltered, and completely yourself, because they’ve always known you that way.
There’s a special kind of ease when you’re with people who’ve shared in your growth, witnessed your growing phases, and yet still managed to love you through all of it. Old friends remind you that you don’t have to be perfect. They don’t expect you to have it all figured out or to present yourself in a polished way. They just want you to show up as you are.
What’s even more magical is that, as time goes on, old friends have this beautiful way of reminding you of how foolish you were, yet it’s not in a hurtful or judgmental way. It’s more like they’re holding up a mirror to your past, laughing at the silly things you did, the bizarre decisions you made, and the funny stages you went through. And they laugh with you, not at you.
It’s a reminder that life is a journey of growth. The person you were back then may have been naïve or reckless, but that’s the person who led you to who you are now. And when you’re with your old friends, they don’t just remind you of your mistakes, they remind you how far you’ve come. How much you’ve learned. How much life you’ve lived since then.
That’s the beauty of old friendships, they’re a safe haven. They don’t expect you to be perfect, and they don’t hold grudges over past mistakes. Instead, they see the evolution. They see the battles you fought, the growth you’ve undergone, and the person you’re becoming. They remind you of your roots, of where you came from, and help you embrace where you’re headed.
Sometimes, when life feels overwhelming, you need to be reminded that it’s okay to not have it all together. That it’s okay to laugh at your past, to be foolish, to have grown. Life continues, and those old friends, through all the messy phases, remind you that no matter how many years pass, they’ll always be there to love you as you are.
When thinking too much about the person you should be, or whether you’re “cool” enough for a new friend group or situation, think about those old friends. Think about how they’ve loved you without conditions. Think about how they’ve seen it all, yet still find you worth their time. And remember, you don’t need to be anything but yourself when you’re with the people who’ve been there from the start.
As creatives, it is important to embrace growing with freedom. The best of the designs you see today that inspire you or get you overwhelmed were done by the same people whose designs were awful in years past. Enough of keeping yourself in the cage for the best personal reasons, grow in freedom. Allow yourself to evolve. Learn. Practice. Show your work. Keep growing. Congratulations!
Life moves forward, but the true beauty of friendship is that, with the right people, you can always go back to that space of pure, unapologetic authenticity. The space where you can laugh, reminisce, and be reminded that, no matter how far you’ve come, you’ll always have old friends who love you exactly as you are.
And that, truly, is priceless.