Sometimes, because our environments change or our values diverge, friends start feeling awkward, and we end up drifting apart or cutting ties entirely. Then, as we get older, the loneliness kicks in. I’ve heard that people in their 50s and 60s often call counseling hotlines and just sob their eyes out. You even see people at local pubs nursing a draft beer alone, ears perked up to hear others' conversations, or even worse, some who just barge into strangers' talks... It’s really lonely without friends. Thinking back to when my late father was in a nursing hospital, the men's ward was dead silent (almost like a zombie movie, it was chilling), while the women's ward was full of people gathered in small groups with snacks, laughing and chatting. It feels like men generally have that 'lone wolf' tendency. That’s why no matter how uncomfortable it gets, I try to be good to my friends. Even if I hear something upsetting, I try to think, 'He’s not that kind of person, he probably meant well,' and just take it positively. Maybe it's a heart-to-heart thing, because my friends seem to take my words the same way, which I’m always grateful for.

A friend is someone you can meet once in a while to vent about things you can't even tell your family, which gives a sense of catharsis. It feels like there are more pros than cons. I think life is meaningful when you just accept the differences in values that come from different political views or social status. Let's just admit that as our own 'boomer energy' grows, so does our friends'. I think if even one friend shows up and truly grieves at my funeral, my life was a success. Having the mindset of 'That can happen' or 'I get it' seems to be the power that keeps life peaceful.

Don't let your friends drift away. How about we try to cherish them a bit more?