Building Timeless Friendships

more on extending grace, showing up for others & loving in a new way.

Jun 22, 2025

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about friendships heavily. From showing up, to loving consistently even through different expressions and what it means to have a healthy relationship with oneself. This past week, someone dear to me had her introduction wedding ceremony and being able to witness and celebrate her joy was honestly such a beautiful experience. Another friend celebrated her mum’s ten year anniversary since she passed. Another had the launch event for her newest venture. The common thread in all of these situations, was showing up. Being able to celebrate all three of them etched something within me, and it’s the ability to truly journey with others. Thoughts flooded my mind on the importance of showing up for people, loving others in different seasons and the importance of choosing to journey with others rather than ‘transacting’ with them. I’ll unpack more on what I mean by this further.

On extending grace

‘Extend grace and always remember the humanity of others..’ A phrase I have been meditating on in recent weeks and reminding myself of. There’ve been times where I’ve placed people I love and respect on such a high pedestal and when disappointment came knocking, because it will, it hit harder than it ought to. Looking back, I realise those people were never meant to be placed on such a high pedestal. We all have different expectations and we naturally respond to situations differently. I’ve had to learn over time, that how I show love towards someone I care for, may be different to how they show love to me and this is okay. There’s a place for communicating how we receive love, but ultimately we cannot change people. Extending grace and giving room for disappointment in relationships is something I’ve had to become more comfortable with because it gives room for people to simply be human. Our friends will not always get it right. There will be mistakes, disagreements, times where we do not meet eye to eye, but this isn’t always an indicator to part ways. Sometimes it’s an invitation to welcome deeper intimacy in a relationship, where we accept those around us with their shortcomings and are able to communciate where we’re at and what we require. Extending grace preserves relationships.

On Showing Up

As seasons change, so do our needs and the needs of those around us. Showing up can take different expressions and I’m learning to go the extra mile for those around me even when it’s not convenient. True love is sacrificial— there will always be something else we could sort out in our personal lives, but how willing are we to look beyond oursleves and extend a hand to someone around us? Being giving of our love, time, resources etc, are ways of sowing seeds in the lives of others, and truly whatever we sow, is what we will reap. We may not receive the harvest in that particular relationship, it could be in another, or even generations after us that experience the benefit of that seed sown. Relationships are investments and showing up is a way of continuosly pouring into them. Whenever I have shown up in a way that I knew truly cost me something, it stretched my capacity to love others in a new way, and even taught me how to love others in a measure I didn’t know I was capable of.

On when loving someone takes a new rhythm…

Loving others will take new rhythms per season. How we show love too might change, whether from a distance or up close, but our heart postures should remain the same— always rooted in deep, genuine care. It’s easy for resentment or unforgiveness to seep into a relationship when dynamics change. Let’s face it, change isn’t always easy to accept. However, I’m learning to remain loving regardless of change, because my ability to do so is a reflection of who I am. A change in a relationship doesn’t mean it’s failed, it could be a new dynamic. The real challenge comes when we have to ask ourselves, are we people who remain consistent in our love regardless of what has changed? And who knows, a rhythm that led to different paths could eventually lead you back to each other in a new way. The dynamics may never be what they once were, but maybe it’s not always about a return to the old order of things. But rather, embracing the new, and showing up as who we have become, even in the distance.

On our relationship with ourselves…

I’ve found that as my relationship with myself has improved over time, so have the type and quality of friendships I forge. True friends who respect you and really want to see you grow, will honour your boundaries, cheer you on continually and see your growth as an opportunity to know you more, rather than undermine you. It is possible to truly be loved in and out of every season, both highs and lows. We are constantly evolving as people, and to have friends who choose to stay on the journey and love every version of you, is a gift.

🎞️ special moments- with some of my dearest, some over five years ago & some more recent.

Writing this newsletter has made me so nostalgic, as I mentally flicker back to memories and times where my friends have truly shown me what friendship means. The collage above is proof that solid people exist. To anyone struggling relationally, I hope you are encouraged and give frienships another go. There are people who will love you for you and not only what you can do. As always I hope this newsletter meets you where you are. In case you missed it, I’ve been thinking of new ways to connect with the lessons in seasons community. Please fill this in here to share your thoughts. I’ll catch you in the next one.

Love,

Rhieme

🗞️ Roundup of Lessons in Seasons