How To...

break up with your best friend.

Recently, I have been faced with the reality that people change. You will not always be "best friends" with the people you were with in high school. Sometimes you are lucky to maintain a relationship with them and other times you are more then fortunate to still be best friends. But what happens when one is not putting enough effort into holding on to the friendship as the other, you must break up. Just like you would not let a boyfriend treat you a certain way, a best friend should not either, so here are 5 steps on how to break up with your best friend.

1. Slowly cut off contact
Unlike a boyfriend, you can not just say "we're over!", you slowly have to stop being available. Example: take a couple days to reply to a call or text message, you have to slowly let this person know they are not on the top of your priority list anymore.

2. Text instead of call
In today's society, it is more common for friends to keep in contact by texting, but best friends always call. When the phone rings, do not answer. Take some time and text back an hour or two later, asking what they wanted. You are not fully ignoring them, but you are still letting them know you have other things to do.

3. Give them the same effort they give you
One of my friends from high school is the most selfish person I have ever met. Harsh? Yes, but very true. She does not call, text or even Facebook (the most impersonal way possible) so I give the same effort, none. You are letting this friend know their actions are going unnoticed.

4. "Forget" to return contact
You might once in awhile get a text or message, but guess what? You do not have to respond. You'll probably get those monthly text that say "I miss you", you do not have to respond. Actually, we urge you not too. If they really missed you, they would try harder to make sure that the only thing they miss is seeing you, because they talk to you so often.

5. Saying the words, "I am done"
No one wants to be the barrier of bad news, but when you are not being treated like a best friend, but more of a convenience to this person, you must say good-bye. There is nothing wrong with going your separate ways, and there is nothing wrong with moving on, you just have to make sure you have said your peace and walk away gracefully. It does not matter how you do this, whether it is over the phone, in person, via text message, Facebook or Myspace, as long as you have made it clear to this friend that you are just two different people now and its time to move on.