People who have friends but feel like they aren't anyone's *best* friend: What are your thoughts on that?

I know exactly how that feels, honestly. It’s like being in a room full of people where you’re part of the conversation, but you’re always the one who reaches out first, or the one they go to when their "real" best friends are busy. It’s a lonely feeling even when you’re surrounded by friends, and it’s something I’ve struggled with plenty of times over the years.

I think as we get older, our priorities just shift so much. People get tied up with their own families, work, or just the daily grind, and those deep, movie-style best friendships become harder to maintain. It doesn't mean you aren't important to them, it just means life gets a bit cluttered. It’s easy to start feeling like an outsider in your own circle, especially when you see other people with those "inseparable" bonds.

Honestly, I stopped putting so much pressure on finding that one person to be my "best" friend. I started appreciating the different parts of my friends—the one I go to for a coffee, the one I vent to about life, the one I just laugh with. It took the edge off feeling like I was lacking something. You’re definitely not alone in this, lots of us are just floating in that middle ground and doing just fine.