Three things are influencing my thinking this week:

My first retreat, Bloom Together, is coming up next week. As I prepare, my mind is full of friendship — not just as a warm feeling, but as something we can get better at, something we can design intentionally and look for, because friendship helps us grow.

I recently began my 45 x 45 challenge, where I’m trying to meet 45 new people by my 45th birthday in September. Inspired by the health-based challenges people take on for milestone birthdays — and books like 99 Cups of Coffee and The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, I wanted to create a version that fits me better: meeting people I’ve never met before, setting up dedicated time to connect over coffee or a meal, and really learning something about each other.

And I started a local group to bring people in the neighborhood together creating opportunities for connection, conversation, and community because knowing each other makes us stronger.

Honestly, I believe that most of what we struggle with as a society can be solved locally. Local business, local food, local government. I see scaling back to a smaller level as the most effective way to restore our shared humanity. When we meet each other as one neighbor to another — putting aside differences and acknowledging the one place we share — it creates a ripple effect. It shifts how we see the world, the decisions we make, and ultimately the way we live our lives.

All of these things have me reflecting on what success really means — especially in relationships. Success isn’t a fixed destination or a trophy to hold up. It’s progress, movement in the direction you want to go, while staying open to the possibilities that appear along the way.

I’ve learned that “having it all” is a moving target. It’s not just about achievement or milestones. It’s about the full picture: purpose, connection, creativity, growth. And when we talk about all the things, we have to include the people we do life with. Relationships are at the heart of it. So it makes sense that as we grow, change direction, or reimagine what matters most, our relationships change too.

There’s a statistic that says we replace half of our friends every seven years. At first that can sound sad — like loss — but I see it now as part of the evolution. Not everyone is meant to stay. Some friends are leaves, here for a season. Some are branches, steady and strong. And some are roots, grounding us deeply. Each has their place. The key is being intentional about which relationships you nurture as you keep becoming more fully yourself.

This means letting go of connections that once felt right but no longer fit isn’t failure — it’s making space for what’s real now, and for the possibilities ahead. It’s success redefined, where growth and alignment are the goals.

I’ve had many friendships shift or end, and looking back, I see the hardest parts were often my own lack of communication. But that’s part of progress too — learning to show up differently, with more honesty and courage.

With the neighborhood group, I’ve already seen new transplants learn about our town from those who’ve lived here their whole lives, people who didn’t know they lived on the same street form friendships, and old connections rekindled after time got in the way. Those small moments show me that intentional connection is possible — and powerful.

If I could offer one piece of encouragement about relationships and growth, it’s this: people are the best shortcut. When we show up for each other, communicate openly, and welcome new faces, we don’t just build friendships — we build better lives.

If you’re in a season of change or questioning your relationships, maybe it’s time to rethink what friendship and success mean to you now.

Maybe it’s time to make space for new connections that help you grow.