
I often hear people refer to “hitting rock bottom” as the impetus they needed to pull themselves back up to the top again. But since we all come from different backgrounds and deal with our own set of struggles, the notion of rock bottom differs for everyone. And even though being in that dark place is never fun, often the changes that come out of it help shape the direction of life for the better.

When you've known someone a long time, it's inevitable that you'll experience bumps along the road, but with some friends, those growing pains are more frequent. With age comes maturity and a greater sense of awareness, and sometimes the things that didn't affect us before become serious issues in our present relationships. Friendships can either grow stronger or farther apart over time, so if you've ever struggled with an old friendship, do tell, what changed over the years and what obstacles did you both have to overcome to make your friendship work?

I’ve been fortunate enough to build a strong group of friends over the years, but in the process, I’ve encountered my fair share of people who were only out for their own gain. Of course as I’ve gotten older, it’s rare that I find myself in the position of being used by someone, but I’d be lying if I said it’s never happened before. And it’s always an unpleasant realization.

It seems like everyone could benefit from a few more hours to every day. And when you're juggling work, family, friends and a relationship, it can be challenging to make time for everyone. But, if you're like me and enjoy a few moments to yourself, even if it's just to catch your breath, how do you prioritize your relationships so no one feels left out?

As kids it’s nearly impossible to see our parents as anything but our parents, but as we grow older it’s not uncommon to gain a deeper insight into our parents’ lives outside of their parental roles. In the last few years I’ve learned more about my parents as individuals than I did when I lived with them for two decades. And though they’ll always be Mom and Dad, now that I’m an adult and I have a different perspective on parenthood, I’ve really started see them for the people they are.