I’ve been trying to find the words to explain this, and find I am having a difficult time doing so without sounding like a sap, or some needy, online weirdo.

When I joined MFP, it was with the intention of logging my food and exercise. I had done weight watchers for years, and found logging what I ate helped. This was a cool, FREE tool to do what I had been paying for.

I had been on MFP for about a year, not religiously, but every now and then would login in and browse. I checked out some of the forums, but not many. I did find one that seemed to fit me and joined, and am still part of that group today.

So, what started to happen? I started to “make friends”.  I had a few friend requests in that time, but not many, and I did not FR anyone either, but, the other ladies in the group forum that I was on certainly became my friends. I laughed with them, cried with them, cheered them on; I worried about / prayed for them if they or a loved one were going through a difficult time, and they did the same for me in return. I found myself talking about them as if they were my gal pals that lived down the street.  I got to know them on a “first name basis” and not by their site name.  Suddenly, I found myself logging in to see if anyone of my friends had checked into the forum with any new news. MFP now became more of a social place than a tool. I was happy to see them there, and missed them when they were away. I started checking out other forums and establishing new relationships with others with shared similar interests. My wall was filled with interesting tidbits of their daily life. So cool! I don’t know these people, like my FB friends, but I KNOW these people! It is now a place I come to on a daily basis, to check on my friends and say “hello”.

What I guess I’m trying to say is that over the years I’ve been on MFP I have made “true” friends. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting two of my friends in person. When we met, it was like I had known them for years, which, in effect, I had. I look forward to meeting more.

So, where is all this leading? Well, when one of my friends leaves MFP, it is devastating! It makes me so sad to have to say “good-bye”.  I am grateful that they have been kind enough to give me the heads up with a private message, so as not to just disappear from my life one day. And, I do understand and respect their reasons for leaving. But, it doesn’t make it any easier. I miss their daily “chat” or encouraging remarks. I miss checking out their workouts and diaries and taking much needed inspiration from them. I miss the private messaging that would suddenly happen, during the day, or at times, late at night. With a couple of friends, we have become FB friends, so we can stay connected, but that isn’t always the case. For those that are not…I miss them.

As in “real life”, when close friends move, (I had 3 in one year), I will learn to move on.  I may establish closer relationships with some of my other MFP friends, and maybe make new ones, but, it will be different. And that’s okay.