Loyal - Old Friends
| Category: | Scout Law |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Good around the start of a school year, after crossover, when Scouts move up to middle or high school, or any time friend groups are shifting. |
Things change as you get older. You start a new school. You make a new team. You find a new group of friends, maybe a cooler group, maybe one that seems more fun.
That's normal. Growing up means meeting new people and finding out who you are. Nobody expects you to keep exactly the same friends forever.
But here's something to watch out for. Somewhere back there is a friend from before. The one you built forts with, or sat next to every day in third grade, or camped with on your first Cub Scout campout. And they're starting to feel like you don't have time for them anymore. Like you've moved on and left them behind.
Being loyal doesn't mean you can't make new friends. It means you don't throw away the old ones when someone shinier comes along. It means still saying hi in the hallway, even when your new friends are watching. It means remembering that friend's birthday, or inviting them along sometimes. It means never pretending you don't know them because they aren't "cool enough."
Old friends are the ones who knew you before you were trying to impress anybody. They're worth keeping.
So this week, think of a friend you've drifted away from. Send them a message. Ask how they're doing. You might be surprised how much it means to them, and to you.