Somebody That We Used To Know

It's the strangest thing... walking by someone who you used to spend all your waking hours with, or someone who you used to date and love and do your favourite things with.

But now, you just walk past each other and avoid eye contact, as if you had no idea who the other person was, as if they were never a part of your life.

But they were... so why do we do it? 

Personally, I'm a very nostalgic person and I'm always reflecting on past memories or past friendships or past relationships and remembering the good times, and even sometimes missing those people.

What we don't understand though, or more so, what our brains and memories struggle to comprehend, is that those people aren't the ones you loved and knew anymore.

They've changed, and you've changed.

You probably don't have much in common anymore, with say your best friend from when you were seven. Maybe you both loved barbies, sand pits and monkey bars, but guess what? You've grown up.

And often, as people grow up, they change and they become interested in different things.

They might no longer be addicted to red cordial like you both were, rather heroin now, and that's always going to be a tiny little hiccup in the friendship.

It's just funny, that we see these people now and think about how we used to be so close with them, and we feel a little hurt when they snub us or pretend they don't see us, but really, I think you just have to think about it like you have never actually met that person... because you haven't really.

You knew them when they were into sleepovers, and horses and pink glittery nail polish.

But now, it's been years since you've seen each other and so much has happened in between, so many events, changes, growth... and if you weren't there to witness the changes and grow together, then chances are, they are completely different people.

I think it's very much the same in relationships, you might see an ex boyfriend or girlfriend out somewhere and find it so strange that you  don't even acknowledge each other when you used to do everything together and be so intimate.. but even when people are there to witness your changes and your growth as a person, it doesn't necessarily mean you grow and change in the same way.

A lot of the time, people grow apart, and people develop opposing morals and opinions, and that can be damaging for relationships.

Sure you used to kiss that person and have dinner with them and their family and love them, but they're not really the same person you fell in love with. 

They've quit their band, their interests are completely different, they've got new friends, they've dyed their hair, they've developed more conflicting morals and ideologies.

So when you pass by someone that you feel like you used to know so well, and you both avoid each other and pretend you didn't see one another.

Don't feel bad or sad about it. Feel appreciative that you did once have a lot of good times with someone back in the past, and you'll always cherish the memories you acquired with them.

But in the present, all you're doing, is passing by a stranger, whom you've never known.