Hey, Impala, I've just had an awakening! I wanted to share it with you. My answer finally came when my friend posted her feelings (sadly, to the whole world instead of to me!). I never imagined how upsetting my behavior had been to her and I am thrilled to at least now understand that she finds me bossy, jealous, controlling, overpowering, annoying and hurtful. It's probably all true and I accept that. The bottom line for me is that at least, NOW I KNOW HOW SHE FEELS!

I feel that now I can finally release this burden and move on. I think that our friendship was for a reason and it no longer exists. It's okay, I will love her forever, but I will not be in her face anymore. If she ever needs me again, I will not let her down, but I will never invest so much of my heart into that friendship. I know better now.

I have been thinking a lot about an email that goes around once in awhile, no one seems to know who wrote it:

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Reason, Season, or Lifetime Friends

When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. She has come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. She is there to meet a need. Then without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, she will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes she dies. Sometimes she walks away. Sometimes she acts up or out and forces you to take a stand. What we must realize is that the need has been met.

When a person comes into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. She may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. She may teach you something you have never done. She usually gives you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons. Those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. You must accept the lesson, love the person/people anyway, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It's very liberating and I can now go on with my own life knowing that my job is finished in this season. It's good, honestly, good.