How have old friends changed when you reconnected after years apart?

Question

Just saw a high school friend yesterday. It has only been a couple of years but things just seemed different between us. Not in a bad way. Share your experiences, good or bad.

SueShe · Accepted Answer

I haven't seen many former school friends since leaving high school. I pretty much moved away from home as soon as I was 18 and moved to another place about 100 miles away. There have been a few attempts by classmates to hold a class reunion but I always failed to attend them.

So I only saw one mate from 10 years ago and barely recognized him. He was the bully of the class but never with me because I could defend myself.

We did not talk much but I noticed he put on a lot of weight and was jobless. We just exchanged casual greetings and that was about it. I never liked him much and he knew it.

_Maya_ · Accepted Answer

I think that most that I have seen here and there have just grown up. Their priorities change and it is not all just about having fun and hanging out like when we were younger. It is never really a bad thing. I've gotten to hear about cool life experiences and stories. It almost makes me feel proud in a way that many of my friends have gone on to do some pretty great things whether that be starting a family or something career wise. I find it interesting to hear about how their lives have evolved because everyone takes a different path in doing so. Also nice to share my own experiences.

Finchie40 · Answer

Some have some hadn’t. It’s just the way of life , people can change and people can walk different paths in life to the point their past doesn’t really matter to them. I do feel bad at times when an old friend or acquaintance crosses my path and I have no clue who they are , or when old friends’ try to reach out to me on the internet and I have no clue who they are , so unfortunately it happens. Our brains pick up so much stuff to the point we can’t remember everything , even though I do have a damn good memory, it isn’t perfect 😊

bobalife · Answer

It is interesting because it can go south or really good…
As for me, last year, I reconnected with an old high school friend I used to be really close with. It actually went really well and better than before. We both can tell we’ve grown up so much in our perspectives, wisdom, maturity, honest conversations, gratitude, and honoring our friendship in a different light. It was honestly beautiful and grateful of how we were both able to reconnect in the best way… we’ve gotten closer than ever and she is literally a sister from another misteruh to me.

Purpleronnie · Answer

Meh , generally people change , it’s expected. In my experience it’s been my perception that they have changed for the better I. e mellowed , matured etc but some very much the polar opposite and I’ve decided in the brief re-interaction that I would decline any invitation to get together and ‘catch up’. Or in the case of an even more recent event I have found out through they’re friends or family that she have gone completely off the rails or worse.

Life is change , I don’t expect anything less.

7Phoenix7 · Answer

This is so true. Sometimes reconnecting feels like meeting the same person but just in a different chapter of their life. Not bad, just… different.

My friend from high school changed a lot and mostly in good ways. We still talk and catch up every now and then.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

Anecdotally I have noticed in my life this seems different for men and women.

A few years back I ran into a friend I haven't seen since I graduated HS in 1997 and it was like we started where we left off lol. That was actually really fun day. We both looked at each other and started laughing it had been so long.

We thought of the same school story and just caught up.

But I think in general it's normal for you to notice people are exactly as you remember (good or bad) and some change drastically (good or bad).

You're still so young but 18-25 things can change a lot for many people.

Sun_Kim-Ai · Answer

Found out last week that I a guy I used to party with and hang out till 2020 is now a vicebrigadier in the Carabinieri.  He’s become all serious and cleaned up, he used to be such an animal before.

Tarifa · Answer

It will always be different, especially after finishing higher education or university. You either move to another town, state or country, start a job and suddenly have less time available, maybe have a partner and spend less time with your friends. It's inevitable. You get more mature (in the good sense) and may have a different outlook on life and expectations. That's perfectly normal.

bobafiend27 · Answer

I met up with a friend who I hadn’t seen since high school and she was much more mature, but almost a little too serious in my opinion. She used to be very goofy and fun, but when I met up with her she only really talked about work and I was pretty monotone. I didn’t want to assume much about her cause I didn’t know her life, but I kind of missed the goofball I was friends with

Nikki1989 · Answer

People hopefully grow up and change. Life is about change. However many people do get stuck in their bubble as users of this site will surely know by now.

Xawyx-2 · Answer

I saw several of my high school friends recently, some of them are married, they have kids... some of them got fat... some of them are divorced.  Most of them have changed a bit... everyone but me :P

Circushowcowboy · Answer

Yea, I think we both end up taking separate paths that makes us different people over time

blondfrog · Answer

I honestly do not have any old friends. I got bullied a lot when I was little. The few friends I do have aren't really friends they are just more people I am friendly with during my ji jitsu class as an adult.

loveslongnails · Answer

I haven't disconnected from any real friends in the past. I had many acquaintances and no desire to reconnect with them to begin with, but the real friends are still around.

whosnumber_1 · Answer

The biggest change for me was a couple years out of high school I realized my best friend and I really had nothing in common other than our sense of humour, we don't talk anymore.

Jen_oic · Answer

@abbycado  We just got back together and I haven’t noticed anything different

MrChinaski · Answer

Some sell out their dreams. Some seem the same.

theskyrider · Answer

Definitely it does, you are lucky if you have a friend

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

I have never reconnected with a long friend after being away from each other for long years...

harrrykane · Answer

It’s hard to find the same strong bonds after years apart like before.

lilBigPotato · Answer

Luckily I never lost contact to most of my good friends so no surprises there.

AngryCarl3 · Answer

Either much fatter, or much thinner. Other than that, they hadn't changed at all.

AgentG111 · Answer

Not a lot persay.

rapfan107 · Answer

Some mature others changed in all the worse ways

robocop666 · Answer

yeah it can be bad when you grow apart

How have old friends changed when you reconnected after years apart?

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How have old friends changed when you reconnected after years apart?

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