To give a bit of a background, I lost my mother when I was 20 years old (5 years ago). Although it was definitely the worst experience of my life, I felt an amazing sense of peace during the first few months after my mother's passing. However, about a year and a half after she passed I realized that I had begun to distance myself from practically everyone including family, friends and my church. I later realized I was coping with my grief by withdrawing and emotionally distancing myself from people I cared about.
My family remained diligent in connecting with me. However, I think a lot of my friends didn't quite understand my distance especially since it didn't start until a year and a half after my mom passed. Many of them took it personally. Looking back, I can understand why. I just wasn't in a good place to be a good friend to anyone and was so emotionally disconnected that I didn't consider communicating that with anyone. It's been almost 3 years since a lot of my friends and I grew distant. Now I'm in a very happy place in my life. Some of them have gone on to get married and some are married with babies and my heart aches a bit at the thought of not being there to experience those moments with them.
It's been on my mind for months now to reach out to a couple of the ladies I used to be so close to but I'm worried that we're in such different places in our lives now that they've moved on and aren't interested in regaining their friendship with me. I know I hurt some of them a lot (unintentionally of course) but now that I'm happier emotionally and past the worst of the grieving process, I really miss them and don't want to miss anymore major milestones in their lives, neither do I want them to miss anymore of mine. However, I also don't want to disturb the new lives they've created or rehash anything negative.
Any suggestions on how I could attempt to regain these lost friendships? I really feel like God is leading me to reach out to them but I don't know how and I'm afraid of rejection. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
My family remained diligent in connecting with me. However, I think a lot of my friends didn't quite understand my distance especially since it didn't start until a year and a half after my mom passed. Many of them took it personally. Looking back, I can understand why. I just wasn't in a good place to be a good friend to anyone and was so emotionally disconnected that I didn't consider communicating that with anyone. It's been almost 3 years since a lot of my friends and I grew distant. Now I'm in a very happy place in my life. Some of them have gone on to get married and some are married with babies and my heart aches a bit at the thought of not being there to experience those moments with them.
It's been on my mind for months now to reach out to a couple of the ladies I used to be so close to but I'm worried that we're in such different places in our lives now that they've moved on and aren't interested in regaining their friendship with me. I know I hurt some of them a lot (unintentionally of course) but now that I'm happier emotionally and past the worst of the grieving process, I really miss them and don't want to miss anymore major milestones in their lives, neither do I want them to miss anymore of mine. However, I also don't want to disturb the new lives they've created or rehash anything negative.
Any suggestions on how I could attempt to regain these lost friendships? I really feel like God is leading me to reach out to them but I don't know how and I'm afraid of rejection. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!