There is no MUST. I had some close friends I parted ways with years ago because they turned out to be pathetic jerks. Or perhaps, I was acting like a pathetic jerk. I didn't wrap my head around whose fault that was. Suffice to say each of us went their own way.
Each time you move on in your life, the old associates are replaced with new ones. Fuck, even the family isn't irreplaceable. Once my grandma and mom died, they were quickly replaced with the grandmas and grandpas I look after at work. They became a substitute family in no time.
It is possible to have friends who stay with you from the beginning till the end but these are rare cases. I have one such friend and it's the only one. But even such friendships can be broken. The point is the ability to find new associates and strike new friendships and allegiances. The ability to stay alone if there is a need for that is also important.
People in your life are as actors on the stage. They change with each act. What counts is being flexible and adapting to changes. Most of the tribes people form in the modern world are temporary. There is nothing to pledge loyalty to. If the old bonds no longer work for you, let them burn and don't look back.
Edited by Czereda (02/06/1909:26 AM)
_________________________ Anna Czereda Crazy Cat Lady
The point is the ability to find new associates and strike new friendships and allegiances.
Anyone can be a chameleon and go adapt to a new environment. You are taught from the outset how to go be like the others and belong. Consider yourself lucky if the others will not let you.
Like with a new job, you keep personable and say/expose as little as possible at first. Then slowly begin to assert yourself.
What can take you to disturbing Twin Peaks like places is deliberate isolation. When this happens the need for allies can be replaced by the GTA 'single player' approach. Life as a game on isolated expert mode. Commonality of goal with others is like a one-time pad.
Quote:
People in your life are as actors on the stage. They change with each act.
And in act 5 everyone dies.
All our yesterday have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.
Edited by Phoenician (02/06/1902:35 PM)
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This is reckoning day Yesterday is dead and gone
