My Friendships Look Different the Older I Get

(A poem shared by Golden Gate President Casey Caccioppo Bode.) ​

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We aren’t planning carefree happy hours after work anymore or
gossiping about who is dating who or worrying about what is trendy to

wear.

We’re helping each other with really hard marriage stuff and
unexpected losses and health scares and struggling kids and financial

stress.

These are the golden friends, the ones who have stuck through the
years and changes and long spaces. Sometimes we talk every day,
sometimes weeks or months go by, but every time we do it feels like no

time has passed at all.

We are the first to offer love and encouragement, and don’t take
offense when space is needed. We let the tears flow, whether it’s from
laughter or sadness. We have each other’s backs, even when we aren’t
in the same room. We accept each other for who we are—flaws, quirks,

and all.

We understand that life isn’t always black and white, there isn’t often a
right answer, and you don’t really understand something until you’ve
been through it yourself. There’s no judgment or shame. Because at
this point, every single one of us has been through our own version of

hardship.

And even though we’re a little more tired and wrinkled now, and a little
softer or saggier in some places, getting older together is such a gift.
Because we are also so much wiser, stronger, and confident in
ourselves. We’re better at letting the little stuff go and savoring the
good. We are authentically, gloriously free to be ourselves.
And no matter how far apart we get, being back together always feels

like coming home.