Letting Go…Or Not
I recently watched the movie 5 Centimeters Per Second, and couldn’t help but find how realistic the story was. To sum it up, a young couple ends up separated because they both transfer to different schools. While Akari, the female character, goes on the find a new lover and get engaged, we see Takaki, the male character, go through life unhappy and still attached to the feelings he had for Akari. Takaki does eventually decide to move on, and it made me think, and I mean really think, about myself and all the friendships I have made. Similarly, I realized I still haven’t been able to let go of the feelings I have had for most of the friends I used to be so close with.

You see, I don’t really have anyone in my life except my friends. With my mom being gone most of the day working, as well as constantly being disrespected by my family, I never really felt safe and comfortable around them. I can’t seem to find my trust in them anymore, even if they have improved throughout the years, and I still feel pretty anxious when I’m spending time with my family. Luckily, I found solace in the friends I made throughout my life. As cheesy as it sounds, the friends I made really did shape me into who I am today. They made my life exciting and always pushed me to better myself, while teaching me unforgettable life lessons. For that, I will always be grateful for them.
After all, a friendship exists simply because people want it to exist. It does take a lot of effort from both sides to maintain such a connection. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try to stay close to others, fate just eventually separates us due to circumstances we can’t control. People who used to be best friends can end up barely seeing each other as they both go off to different colleges, meet new people, and get into relationships. That’s just our harsh reality, and it’s sad, but it will always be a part of life.
Of course, not being able to let go of dying relationships leads to a big price to pay — your happiness. When I’m still holding on to those feelings for those lost friendships, I often like to think about them and wonder how they’re doing. This results in me feeling sad, since my thoughts and concerns constantly remind me that I am no longer a part of their lives and they are not a part of my life anymore. Yes, it does hurt sometimes, but don’t let it hold you back from moving forward in life. The best way to overcome these negative feelings and escape the pit of despair is to constantly establish new relationships with new people you meet.
So, why don’t I just let go them? I mentioned earlier that one can establish more connections and new friendships. I have constantly been making new friends, but I know that they will never, ever, replace any of my old friends, and I wouldn’t want to treat them as replacements. From my years of making new friends, I learned that everyone is unique in their own way. Even the new friends you make possess their own unique traits that make it impossible to replace someone or be replaceable themselves. Also, by letting go, it means you stopped caring about that person and maintaining the friendship, and I will always care about my dearest friends, even when they already stopped caring about me.
I would be lying to you if I said it was possible to keep all of your friendships. Of course, with extreme work and effort, there are some exceptions. But for the most part, don’t expect life to maintain relationships. Things always change, and we are in this constant cycle in which the people we come to love eventually become strangers of the past. It’s totally fine to let go of people if it leads to a happier life for you. After all, the most important thing to focus on is yourself and making sure you’re doing well. As for me, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing; I’m going to keep moving forward in life while holding on to the feelings I have for everybody. If the wise thing to do is to just let go, then I would rather be a fool. Who knows, I might end up like Takaki and lose my happiness and just merely exist, but it’s something I’m going to choose to live with. I’m willing to take the pain if it means being able to hold on to the people I love.

