🍋 Turning Lemons Into Lemonade: When Friends Turn Sour

Friendship can be one of the sweetest parts of life.

During this journey, I’ve had friends come onboard, believe in me, support what I was doing, encourage me and walk beside me.

But I’ve also learned that friendships can change.

Some friends walked away. Some became distant. Some disappointed me. Some took more than they gave. And yes… some have even stolen from me. 😂🍋

Now THOSE were some lemons!

There have been moments when I’ve wondered, How did we get here? How can someone who was once so close to you suddenly feel like a stranger?

But as I continue turning my lemons into lemonade, I’m learning that everyone who starts the journey with you isn't necessarily meant to finish it with you.

And that doesn't erase the good times we had.

It doesn't mean the entire friendship was bad.

Sometimes people are meant for a season.

But here's the beautiful part.

While I've had friends who brought a few lemons into my life, I've also had friends who brought the sugar.

They poured into me when I felt empty.

They made me laugh when life wasn't funny.

They called just to check on me.

They listened when I needed to talk.

They encouraged me when I questioned myself.

They reminded me to keep going when life kept handing me lemons.

Sometimes they couldn't fix what I was going through. They didn't need to.

They simply showed up.

And I've learned not to become so focused on the people who left, disappointed me, took from me or hurt me that I overlook the people who stayed.

That's a lesson I'm carrying with me.

I'm learning to set boundaries without becoming bitter.

I'm learning that forgiveness doesn't always mean allowing someone back into the same place in my life.

I'm learning to appreciate a friendship for what it was, even when it isn't what it used to be.

And most importantly, I'm learning not to allow someone else's actions to change my heart.

So if you've had a friendship turn sour, here's my Lemon Squeeze for you:

Don't let a sour friendship make you a sour person.

Take the lesson.

Set the boundary.

Keep the memories that are worth keeping.

And pay attention to the people who continue to pour into you.

Because I've discovered something along this journey:

Not every friend is a lemon. Some friends are the sugar that helps you make the lemonade.

And those are the friends worth being thankful for.

🍋 Just One Lemon SqueezeTurning lemons into lemonade, one squeeze at a time.