Am I the only one who feels like they lost most of their friends after separation?

My Take: Oh, you’re definitely not the only one. Separation has this weird way of acting like a social-life hurricane—it sweeps through, and suddenly half your “friends” are missing. Turns out, some were fair-weather buddies who didn’t sign up for the storm. It’s not fun, but it’s also a brutally efficient way to find out who’s genuinely in your corner.

I’ve been there and seen it countless times. Here’s the silver lining: the friends who stick around through the mess? Those are your people. They’ll roll up their sleeves, bring over wine or pizza (or both), and sit through your venting sessions without keeping a mental tab. Those friends? Keep them for life. Everyone else? Thank them for their exit—they made room for better connections.

Helpful Resources:

1. Meetup.com – Great for finding new social circles or support groups tailored to your interests or situation.
2. "Option B" by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant – A solid read on building resilience and community after personal loss or change.

And remember: The real friends don’t just endure your suffering—they’ll probably make a joke about it when you’re ready to laugh. Hang on to those gems.