Why Your Longest Friendships Need a Tradition
The word "friend" seems cheapened today. We use it liberally, yet true, reliable friendships—the kind that feel like a chosen family—are often the hardest to maintain as life speeds up. We’ve all heard the old saying: "Save me from my friends, I can handle my enemies myself." This reflects a modern skepticism, a fear of superficiality and betrayal.
But what if the secret to defying this trend and keeping those decades-long bonds intact wasn't constant effort, but a single, shared, and possibly absurd tradition?
The Erosion of Connection
It’s easy for deep friendships to dissolve into occasional "likes" on social media. Careers take us across continents, family life absorbs our time, and the shared history we built in high school or college slowly fades into nostalgia. The simple truth is: life gets in the way.
We lose the non-negotiable structure that once kept us together—school schedules, dorm rooms, weekly meetings. As adults, we need to artificially re-create that mandatory connection.
The Power of the Absurd Tradition
Imagine a group of friends who, for decades, have maintained one simple, yet intense, ritual: a common, silly game they started back in college.
This game is not about winning a prize or networking; it’s about a shared commitment to a shared history. It becomes the central mechanism—the powerful, non-negotiable excuse—that forces them to:
- Reunite: It demands physical presence, regardless of career or distance.
- Reconnect: It strips away the adult pretense and places them back into the mindset of their youth, reinforcing their core bond.
- Relive the Vows: It is a yearly renewal of their friendship, an agreement that some things—like the sheer joy of competing and being together—are more important than the mundane constraints of adult life.
These shared rituals are the lifeblood of a true second family.
Finding Your "Game"
Your tradition doesn't have to involve elaborate planning or brutal chases. It could be an annual road trip to a specific, insignificant place, a mandatory phone call on the 13th of every month, or a commitment to watch the same obscure 70s movie on a fixed day.
The key is that the tradition must be:
- Non-Negotiable: Something you all agree must happen, no matter what.
- Unique to Your Group: A ritual that carries the weight of your shared memories.
- Simple, Yet Powerful: An activity that focuses attention away from adult troubles and back onto the pure fun of being together.
In an age where true connection is scarce, don't let your best friendships become casualties of distance and time. Create your own tradition. Give your chosen family a reason—an unbreakable bond—to keep showing up.
What's the one thing that brings your oldest friends back together? Share your stories below!
Yes, friendship is very important, it is like a kind of love.
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