When a Friendship Quietly Slips Away

A few weeks ago, I found myself in one of those honest conversations with a friend I have loved for years. We have shared vacations, child-raising seasons, countless memories. But somewhere along the way, we both got busy and the check-ins became fewer and farther between.
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​This is relational drift.​
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The quiet space that grows between two people who genuinely care about each other. Not a disagreement. Not a dramatic exit. Just the slow fade that happens when life fills up and no one says anything.
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Most relationships do not end in conflict.
They end in quiet.
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It's the friendships that somehow slipped into the background…
The people I adore but never actually see…
The moments where connection weakened not because something happened, but because nothing happened.
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And maybe it is because we are in the middle of the holiday season, but this feels like the time of year when we notice these things more. The holidays have a way of highlighting what is meaningful and magnifying what has been missing. They offer a natural moment to pause, breathe, and pay attention to the people who matter most.
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​So here is what I want to offer you this Saturday morning:​
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If someone popped into your mind as you read this, that is your person.
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Send the text.
Make the call.
Break the silence.
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No long apology. No big explanation. Something as simple as:
​Hey, you crossed my mind today. I hope you are well.
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​You would be amazed how often people are waiting for you to come back, not keeping score of how long it has been.
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As you look toward 2026, I hope you will take a moment to ask yourself:
Who do I want closer again?
Where am I letting silence create a story that is not true?
What relationships deserve a little more care in this season?
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If you want to go deeper with this, I recorded a podcast episode that unpacks the full idea of relational drift and how to rebuild before things break. You can listen here.​
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With love,
Barb 🩷