We live in a world that has become remarkably skilled at replacing things. When our phones break, we upgrade them. When products wear out, we buy new ones. When jobs no longer satisfy us, we move on.
Increasingly, when relationships become difficult, disappointing, or demanding, we do the same. We live in what many have described as a "throwaway culture", a culture that prizes convenience over commitment, speed over depth, and independence over interdependence. While this mindset may work for consumer goods, it comes at a significant cost when applied to human relationships.
The result is all around us. Despite living in the most connected age in history, loneliness has become a defining experience for many people. We have hundreds of contacts, countless followers, and instant access to others, yet many of us struggle to name a handful of people with whom we feel truly known. This blog series explores a simple but profound question:
What has happened to friendship, and how can we reclaim it?
Drawing on insights from attachment theory, relational psychology, and Dr. Marisa G. Franco's ground breaking book Platonic, we will examine why friendship is far more important than society often acknowledges. We will explore how our attachment styles influence the way we connect, why vulnerability is essential for meaningful relationships, and how friendship can become one of the most powerful sources of healing, belonging, and personal growth. Along the way, we will also examine some of the unhealthy patterns that sabotage connection.
One of these is the Drama Triangle, a relational dynamic in which people unconsciously move between the roles of Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor. These patterns can leave friendships exhausted, unbalanced, and ultimately broken. Understanding them can help us build healthier, more mature relationships grounded in responsibility, empathy, and mutual respect.
At its heart, this series is not simply about making friends. It is about learning how to stay connected in a culture that encourages disconnection. It is about discovering that friendship is not a luxury to be fitted around the important parts of life. Friendship is one of the important parts of life. Most of all, it is about challenging the belief that people are disposable.
Every lasting friendship requires intention. It requires courage. It requires repair when things go wrong. It requires choosing connection over convenience and commitment over comfort. In a society that often tells us to move on, friendship invites us to stay, to listen, to forgive, to grow, and to belong.
My hope is that this series will encourage you to reflect on your own relationships, reconnect with people who matter, and perhaps rediscover the transformative power of friendship.
Because in a throwaway culture, choosing to invest in friendship may be one of the most countercultural acts we can make.
Importantly it is one of the most life-giving.
So lets begin