Pruning

I have a ton of people in my life. Simply tons. However there are very precious few who I consider close friends. I have always defined them as my "4-am friends" - other than family and my significant other I have two. These are the people who I would literally do anything in my power to help.

They were not instant friends. They were both friends of friends initially, but over time grew into true friendships. They are people that I can see once a year or once a day and be just as happy either way. Our friendship is always adapting, but the root essence of it never changes- its always there.

I like that.

Lately I have been loosing patience with friendships that have been overly demanding for what I feel is a lesser return. They put demands and impose obligations but seem to care little about my needs or desires. Since I have the spine of a 4 year-old I have been working really hard on putting limits on what I can feasibly do for and with others. It has been hard to stick to. I hate to have people upset with me, especially when I logically could help them out. But it only takes a small interaction with a "4-am" level friend to remind me what I want in a friendship. What I need.

So I realized this past weekend, in order to maintain my sanity, I may need to do some pruning. Trimming away old growth is always hard, but there doesn't seem to be any other way to maintain the healthy without it.