Broken promises among friends.

Friendships require mutual communication, trust, and forgiveness. Communication is the primary key to relationships. Unlocking this opportunity with shared time and space permits trust to grow.

However, life will always bring unforeseen changes and needs to each person. Without communication, life thus brings distance between friends - expectations and promises can dissolve or distort and become difficult to maintain. In our nomadic, emotionally-repressed society, such situations are inevitable.

When apparent expectations or promises are broken, trust is broken and cannot be mended by one. In fact, trust may never mend. Rebuilding trust requires mutual forgiveness - for lack of communication, for lack of understanding, and for lack of effort.

For those who can rebuild, a new level of trust inevitably brings a stronger bond. Those who cannot rebuild must let go. Only time and patience will distinguish between those who can and cannot rebuild.
~12/03/2008


ADDENDUM:
I've been thinking a lot about this lately and have to acknowledge that how we communicate is very important - and that not everybody does this the same way. While communication is generally necessary for mutual friendships and relationships, forcing a mode of communication can be controlling and destructive -- even if you mean well. When two people don't communicate in the same manner on any particular topic - watch out... forcing your own style can be inflammatory. Sparks can fly and meltdown may be imminent. You may destroy what you are trying to salvage. If both people are intentionally or unintentionally forcing their own communication style - one of the two will eventually need to enter the conversation without any expectations - or both could lose everything.

In anticipation of future meltdowns, it may be useful for any lasting friendship/relationship to delineate how you communicate and the boundaries/expectations around the communication. This may help personal meltdowns to be more productive and allow those around you to respect your communication style(s).