New Year, New People

A question has been lingering in my mind every time: who do I want around me as I enter the new year? It isn’t because I hate people or enjoy cutting others off, but because I have come to realise that people are around us for two purposes: either to add value to us or slowly drain us.

Honestly, I love having people around me who add positive energy to my life. I value people who inspire growth, faith and hope. In the same way, I also want to be that friend to others, too. This wouldn’t be like me receiving alone and not giving.

For me, friendship should be a mutual thing - one that lifts me up and I lift you up, and everyone feels good. I don’t want the kind of friendship that silently competes with one another negatively or constantly ruins our emotional connection.

Just yesterday, I made a difficult decision to cut off someone. It wasn’t intentional. It came from observing the consistent pattern in her. There was no desire to change, even when I have on different occasions tried to let her see how good it is to live a good and righteous life, but you see, you can’t force anyone to change.

The way I see it, there’s no openness to truth, and if this continues, it might constantly conflict with my faith, which I wouldn’t want. Scripture warns us to be careful of the company we keep, and I take that seriously.

I do not want anyone polluting my spiritual life or weakening my walk with God, especially for someone like her who has openly vowed not to turn to a new path. For such a person, the best I can do is to step back completely.

It won’t stop me from wishing them well and sincerely praying that God touches their heart. That’s something I am willing to do, and if you would agree with me, distance, sometimes, is an act of wisdom.

I may not have many friends but I truly desire a good network. I deeply desire people who will help my growth in this new year. I don’t want to be stuck. For the few friends I have this year, I am grateful; most of them I met online, and they have contributed greatly to my growth and achievements. I am thankful for such a gift of friends around me.

As the year 2026 approaches, my arms are open to welcome new connections. I want people we can connect with, people we can build with, work with and share experiences and opportunities that help us all move forward.

Honestly, when we are surrounded by good friends, it’s a great advantage. Not only is it an advantage but also a form of self-love.

Who would want to remain around friends who crush their spirit? Friends who gossip behind one’s back, plot evil in their hearts or withhold helpful information? I don’t want that. Trust me, it is far better to cut off completely than to keep such people until they destroy things. Some people are not worth staying forever; they are only there for a while.

In my tribe, it is said that when two people enter a room and come out laughing, they may not have said the truth to each other, but when they come out with sober faces, it means the truth has been spoken.

It’s also said that the truth is always bitter but it’s for the best. I want friends who won’t hide things from me but speak the truth when necessary.

Proverbs 27:6 says that faithful are the wounds of a friend. The truth may hurt, as I said, but it heals faster, and that’s the kind of friendship I desire this new year.

---

_{Images Credited to Meta AI}