“I don’t need anymore friends.” That used to be a commonly repeated phrase for me, and most people seemed to understand. And while it is good to know and respect our boundaries and limits, that comment was a statement that reflected my capacity at that point in my life.

My “no more friends” space made sense. At the time, I could not balance trying to internalize my own worth and maintain a meaningful connection to someone else. Especially someone who was “new” to my life. And the vulnerability that comes along with sharing yourself, seemed more like a threat to my survival than a companion.

As my capacity has grown, so has my connection to those around me. Fortunately, some of those connections have turned into meaningful friendships that I feel honored to have. And realizing that I am in choice about who I let in my life, makes my decisions feel like safe ones.

There are a lot of things that I don’t need more of, a good friend is not one of them.