In between working, chasing bucks, yes.

Same, in that it’s hard to make time. I am not a big phone talker, not big on texting. Email is hit or miss for me and I’m not on Facebook so for me I really have to make an effort and sometime too much is going on in my life with work and also making time for family so the even my close friendships take a back seat. I don’t feel it’s any different for my friends and their lives as well. Good friendships can usually can with stand the down times, I think. Casual friendships I am ok not working so hard on those.

Also when I’m struggling with something or feel stressed, I’m not one seek friendship support. I prefer to work through that stuff myself or take time away to decompress and then resurface when I feel more balanced.

Friendship can be both fickle and fleeting or stable and lasting. Whatever the case, just be yourself, and the friendships that are stable and lasting will prove themselves out over the long term and the ones that are fickle and fleeting won't. That's just the way it works.

Thank you all for the insight. When I had a best friend, we understood the weeks of no communications. We would resume as normal. I relate to some what you said rmb. I do not like texting much.

Hi there! This is very relatable for me. I just moved to a new place and my friendships are all long-distance now. There are days when I feel lonely and sad and don't pick up the phone, however when I decide to pick up and call... I never regret it! I know it can be exhausting but keep trying!

Hi- I used to text my friends often but since the pandemic started, I got so busy with other things but I try to connect with them occasionally.

Good communication is important in any kind of relationship. It may be hard but keep trying. Reach out to your friend once in a while just to stay connected.

Thank you for sharing. God bless.

One of my close friends lives 2 doors down. But she works and has family, I work and have family. We can go weeks without saying hello or talking. When I start to "miss her" I will send a text saying so, she'll text back that she misses me. We both know the other will make time if and when the other "needs to talk", but other than that, we are in each other's minds and hearts and that is where friendship lives.

I used to have a lot of friends and we talked on the phone every week, maybe more. Now it seems like people only want to text or only want to communicate through Facebook, which I hate. I even had a good friend say she communicates only through FB now. I think we have to make time though. My husband's friends call all the time but my friends never call. It feels like we are slipping away from friendship. Perhaps I need to make more of an effort but when I call, I get their VM and they don't call back or they pick up and want to talk only five minutes. So yes it feels hard to try to maintain friendships right now. I don't have an answer.

Yes, it can be hard at times. I think it depends. Do you regard yourself as introverted? Not to label, just wondering. I can be introverted. I can relate to some of what you are saying, esp. when you talk about things feeling forced.
This weekend we had a virtual meeting and I felt like I should be there for the occasion. The person who leads the calls has us take time and tell each other what we like about each other. I feel guilty, but I'm starting to hate this and I'm not sure why. I felt very forced and fake. I think it's because I sense the group leader has a self-motivated agenda. I actually fantasized about changing my number to get away.
I typically don't express my feelings much unless in a romantic relationship. And then I really express them, and dudes are uncomfortable with this at times so it works against me.
Not that what I said was untrue this weekend, but I've been feeling a sense of growing apart, and don't want to leave the impression that my feelings are deeper than they are.
When it's not a fit-it's forced.

You can keep your phone number and just choose to not attend every meeting.

I’m with Yard_Eggs on this. Real friendship lives in hearts and minds. If I start to resent a friendship, nine times out of ten, the issue is not that person but my own needs have changed.

Orion777, my husband worked at this place that was very dysfunctional. The person they put in charge of my husband's department had no idea, no experience, but lied to get the job. This person would lead the weekly team meetings in the same fake and forced way you describe. They were made to say nice things about each other and also give one success from the week. My husband hated it and soon found another job. He also felt the new department head had a self motivated agenda AND no other skills regarding how to lead a meeting. I might suggest you talk to the leader about how you feel. Or take time this week and write down your feelings to clarify how fake and weird it feels to have to say nice things about the others. Then speak up in a positive way. I am learning to be more real about things and I will say that others often get upset. This is okay, though. I feel good about being real about how I feel. I don't negate or dump on them, I just speak up in a positive manner.

Based on a lot of viewpoints and feedback, I will comment that I feel that I am an introvert. I do not really have friends, so I do not have anyone to say, "I miss you too" besides family. Unless, I go back and rebuild people I knew in the past. When I did have a best friend, we knew how to communicate "I miss you or let's talk." If weeks passed, we were okay. I appreciate how everyone is giving advice to everyone. Rmb, I realized several times that my needs changed in previous friendships, but I stayed being the one doing the most in the friendship. I could be saying it wrong. When you mention that, it could be part of why I do not want to try to put in much of an effort due to fear. Orion777, I forgot about the introvert situation.

I get what you are saying.

Many of us will get this. I do. Part of doing too much in past relationships was my codependence needs and part of my being more "stand offish" now is my introversion.

It’s funny because I’m not an introvert per se. Pretty opposite but I do understand the need to be a little removed. When I was younger I often felt disappointed by people so I would not initiate much to protect myself. I don’t do that any longer because I don’t really feel that vulnerable anymore and recognize, people do what they do, and most times it has nothing to do with me. I think what has helped me over the years with that is to not care so much. I don’t mean that I don’t care about the people. I just don’t get caught up in caring to the degree that it makes me anxious or creates resentment.