23 Comments
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Michelle B's avatar

Oh the tenderness……. I loved it. Very nice. Float and fantastic. 🤍

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

Your words made me smile 🤍 thank you

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Michelle B's avatar

I meant flowy. Not float. I’m sorry. But I meant well. 🧡

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The Wild Path Collective's avatar

So relatable! Sending love through the cosmos and back again.

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

This made me smile.. sending all that love right back your way 💛

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Astrid Sadaya's avatar

So honest and very relateable 💯 I'd love for you to join my community chat where we remember gratitude, celebrate wins, share hoelmest thoughts, and connect 🙂🙏🏽

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

thank you, sure! I think I’m already subscribed, could you send me the link to the group please? Would love to join 🤍

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Sarvam's avatar

That ending cracked something open in me, especially the part about not knowing what to do with tenderness… yeah. Been there. 🥲

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

I know that feeling 🥲

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Lisa Marie Lawler's avatar

Sending hugs...most of my friendships have been for seasons and cycles so this resonated.

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

Thank you 🤍 same here, friendships that matched certain seasons, then faded. Glad it resonated with u 🫶🏻

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Shoshanna ISRAEL's avatar

This is beautiful, raw, and vulnerable. 🥰

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

Thank you so much🫶🏻

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Raymond K's avatar

Others have also commented on the "natural way of such things", that often happen. I have contact with 0 of my high school friends. University years? 1. I moved on, they moved on. And I created new arenas, and I was in those arenas, and I created new reference frames for myself. You mentioned emotional intelligence. Yes, but it is not just that, it is also about finding that "good frequency match", where you really can feel that your frequency, your way of being, thinking, vulnerability and all, can be seen. Fully.

But we must not kid ourselves. It is far easier to open up to each other online than in, say, a cafe, where we all sat. You would not easily be able to say these things, and we would not be able, easily, to respond the way we do. But I feel the need to stand up for a hybrid model, where we connect, yes, online, but where people also become offline friends. Go to each others birthday parties, etc. It is not easy, and it will take time, but I hope that structure will be easier as we move ahead.

Thanks for sharing!

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

I deeply agree, especially about the “frequency match.” That really spoke to me. Sometimes it’s not that we outgrow people out of pride, but because our way of being, thinking, and feeling shifts. It’s never easy to walk away from a 14+ year friendship, not just a phase friend, but sometimes it’s necessary for the sake of alignment.

What we share online feels easier because we know others here will get it. There’s a shared emotional language. But I also love what you said about the hybrid model. Real-life friendships matter too, not to be 100% vulnerable all the time, but to show up with presence without dragging old disappointments into something new.

Thank you for your feedback 🫶🏻✨

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Margchelina's avatar

Sweetheart, I can relate because this probably comes down to your friendships and you having outgrown one another. It's hard. But there are people out there that do understand you and are at the same point in life as you are 🙏🏼🤍

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

That’s exactly why I wrote that Substack fixing something that didn’t even break 🤣 I’m grateful for you all🤍

You’re right, we’ve probably just outgrown each other, even if part of me still wishes we hadn’t.

But that’s life, and I’m omw to finding new friends who can meet the new version of me; ones who accept differences and have the emotional intelligence to truly support each other.

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Dianne MacAdam's avatar

This is so vulnerable and poignant. I resonate completely. ❤️

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

Thank you so much ❤️ it’s really comforting to know we’re not alone in this.

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Joagni's avatar

Love it! Great read :)

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After the storm☔️'s avatar

Thank you so much 🤍

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One Survivor To Another's avatar

This just quietly broke a dam inside me. I have a very dear childhood friend, his whole family, really, who have at turns minimized, invalidated and downright rejected my healing journey. These are people I've known for literally 30 years. I've been through great times and trying times with them. These days when I'm with them, I feel like a visiting alien that speaks a different language. I've finally reached the point of no return. But haven't decided if I'm going ghost or if I'll reach out to let them know why. I'm heart broken. Because, like you, I expected them to at least be interested in what I'm going through. Curious enough to ask questions and pretend to understand. But that's not happening. I have to keep things on the surface with them. And in some ways, that's more exhausting.

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