Modern friendships are about the intention

Over the years, I have come to realise that friendships evolve as we grow.

When we are young, friends are always close by. We laugh together, share everything, and see each other almost every day. When life moves on, many things change. We finish school, start working, move to new places, and meet new people. It can feel like old friends are now far away.

However, today, being a friend is no longer about who is near you.

It is about choosing to connect, even when life is busy or you live far apart. Technology makes it easier. A simple message, a funny picture, or a short “How are you?” shows that we still care. What matters is not how much we talk, but that we reach out with meaning. Even small actions can mean a lot when they come from the heart.

As we grow older and enter adulthood, we meet new friends at work or in our daily lives. They see who we are now. We enjoy their company, share new memories, and grow together.

But sometimes, when life is hard or when we want to share something special, we think of old friends. These are the people who saw us at our best and worst. Even if we do not talk often, they are still important. Relationships aren’t always lost; sometimes, they’re just quiet.

It took me some time to learn this. I used to feel sad when I didn't talk to old friends often. Now I know friendship does not end just because we are busy. We do not need to talk every day. We only need to choose each other again and again, in small ways—by remembering, by sending a quick note, by holding each other in our thoughts. Or in my case, by sending random meme videos on Instagram.

Distance and time are no longer significant problems. We have many ways to keep in touch. It is what we do with these ways that matters. When I feel tired or need comfort, I often send a joke or an old photo to an old friend. Sometimes there is no reply right away, but that is okay. Nobody has their phone on all the time.

New friends arrive, and they help us grow. They see us as we are now. Their presence is a gift. But there’s a difference between meeting someone where you are and being known by someone who’s seen you evolve through each chapter.

This is why, no matter when or where, some connections persist. Not because of frequency, but because we care, we show up, over and over, in whatever way we can.

Distance means far less than it used to. Time zones, schedules, and years apart can’t erase the feeling of being seen, understood, or remembered. Modern friendship, if anything, is a testament to intention: to be present, even when presence is digital, sporadic, or wordless.

So, if this post reminds you of someone —be it a friend, a group of friends, or even family members— send that message. Share the meme. Start the chat. Like the old picture.

Let friendship mean what it needs to for this moment in your life. Maybe that’s the lesson: it’s not the space between us that matters, but the intention behind the message we sent.

Reach out to that person you think about today.

I hope you find this insightful. Remember:

It's not going to be easy,
But it's not impossible.

Your friend,
Brian.