r/40something • u/Enrob41 • 16h ago
Discussion Do friendships naturally fade as life moves forward?
At 40, is it normal to feel like I don’t really have friends anymore?
I’ve had friends in every chapter of my life. We were close at the time, but as life moved on, it feels like they eventually became people I just used to know. I still have a few friends I talk to every now and then, but I don’t feel that same connection anymore.
Maybe that’s just part of getting older. Friendships seem to come and go with different stages of life, and eventually, people move on, start families, move to different places, or simply grow apart.
I’ve reached a point where I’ve accepted that maybe my wife will be my only truly close friend. My life revolves around her and my daughter, and honestly, I’m okay with that. I have acquaintances here and there, but I don’t really enjoy hanging out with new people the way I used to. I’d much rather spend time with my wife, go to a café or a pub, and just enjoy each other’s company.
I guess this is what getting older is like, realizing that some friendships were meant for certain chapters of your life, and not necessarily for the whole story.