I want my friend back!

CeeJay wrote:

I had a best friend - we did talk a lot and went out all the time and done cool things in the school holidays but when we went back to school it all changed because of the other boys in the class smoked so he started to then he started hanging around with them like going out of school and smoking with them now we don't go out any more or do any think we only say hello when we see each other now, I want to now how to become best friends again with him can you please help me please.

Dear CeeJay

The short answer has to be "no"

• We don't own our friends
• Friendships cannot be frozen
• Friendship depends on shared interests

I could go on, I really could; but the point is, you cannot turn back the clock, you should never try.

You think it's all about smoking, I doubt it - but even if you are right, you cannot force anyone to 'be your friend'.

People change, their interests and priorities change. And, for most people, their friends change.

Think about your interests, your priorities - you'll probably find that you are much closer to some one else - maybe someone who, a few months ago, you had little in common with. That's life.

Some people keep the same friends, unchanged, for years- lucky old them, one less thing to worry about - but they are very much the minority. Think of it as an inconvenience, but don't try and build a time machine!