Isn’t it funny how the friendships we thought would last forever—the ones from childhood or high school—sometimes turn out to be just fleeting connections? The kind that lasted only as long as the sports season we played together or the latest high school gossip held our attention. Looking back, those friendships feel so surface-level. And honestly? I don’t miss them.🤪
It wasn’t until I got married that I truly found the kind of friendships I could rely on for anything. A circle of women I trust wholeheartedly—the kind of friends who would watch my children without hesitation, step in for me when I was on maternity leave and needed an associate shooter for a wedding, or simply be there when I needed to cry and be vulnerable.
One of those friends is Yvone. Believe it or not, we met through social media. We connected over Instagram, realizing we lived in the same town and did the exact same job—both of us photographers, both searching for community. We met up for drinks and appetizers, and from the moment we started talking, we couldn’t stop. We kept discovering mutual connections, shared experiences, and a natural ease in our conversation.
I haven’t been on many “first dates” since I met my husband when I was 15, but I swear—meeting Yvone was the best first date I’ve ever had. (And from what my single friends say about dating these days, I know that’s not the norm!) But what that experience taught me is that it’s never too late to make real friendships—whether in your own community or even online.
There’s something different about friendships formed in adulthood. When you’ve grown into yourself, when you’re more confident in who you are and the life you’re building, the connections you make hold more meaning. They become more intimate, more intentional, and more fulfilling. I truly can’t picture my life without Yvone—she’s been there for me through pregnancy, postpartum, and even the growth of my photography business. She gives the best advice, and our friendship has reminded me that listening—really listening—to others, even when they see the world a little differently, can be one of the most enriching things we do.
We often hear the saying, "Blood is thicker than water," implying that family bonds are stronger than friendships. But for many of us, that’s not always the case. If I’m being completely honest, I sometimes find it easier to open up to my closest friends than even some of my siblings. There’s something special about an outside perspective—one that isn’t bound by family ties but instead formed by choice, trust, and shared experiences.
Friendships take work. They require effort, intentionality, and showing up for each other. But they are also one of the most grounding, fulfilling things in life. If you haven’t yet found those deep, lasting friendships in adulthood, I hope this next year brings them to you.
Maybe it starts here, through this platform. Maybe it starts with putting yourself out there a little more in your own town. Because the friendships that are meant to be? They’re out there waiting for you.
