Today’s episode is about friendship, identity, and grief. I talk about how society and culture are built for romantic love and we are all quite ill-prepared for the heartbreak of platonic, friendship love. I share some of my thoughts on friendship contracts: the unconscious signing of contracts when we first become friends with someone, and what that means as we grow and change as people. But most importantly, I vulnerably share how I’m in the thick of my own heartbreaking and confusing friendship pause* with one of my lifelong best friends.

*my new definition because “friend breakup” sounds so heartbreaking and finite. Plus, we can’t predict the future of our relationships so I’m choosing to use the gentle term “friend pause.”

I took a quote from the queen Brené Brown’s podcast, “Unlocking Us” called “Places We Go When the Heart is Open from Atlas of the Heart,” and you can find that episode here.

I also referenced a piece from The Atlantic called “It’s Your Friends Who Break You Heart,” which is well worth the read.

Lastly, I am obsessed with Anderson Cooper’s podcast “All There Is,” especially the episode with Stephen Colbert (one of my favourite humans). Be sure to check it out.

Finally, if anything from this episode resonated with you, I would be so grateful if you shared on social media and sent to someone in your life. And be sure to follow along on instagram at @nicolebreanne and @findingsparklechasinglight.