I have recently discovered, though, that I can have that good result without having a direct conflict. I feel very similarly about friendships that have weathered other kinds of stress, even sometimes the kinds that don't bear on me very directly. There are several of my friendships that have felt, after the last few months, as though they've been made stronger by adversity. I don't believe in "that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger" -- but a lot of important friendships in my life have had stuff going on around them that makes me feel like maybe it's a little bit true. And I've gotten to skip the "fighting with my friends" part, mostly, and that's something, I guess.
I don't know. I think this is mostly one of those times when I'm here saying, hey, I appreciate you people. Some of you people I appreciate a lot. I would happily do without any further stresses on anyone near and dear to me, but hey, I'm glad you're still here through the ones you've had. I'm glad I'm still here with you. That's what.