As I get older, my perspective changes, and I just see how

The words of Goapele fall like the quiet wisdom of twilight: “As I get older, my perspective changes, and I just see how relationships aren't always what they appear to be. It's one of those sad but true things. We can see sometimes when people are becoming distant in all the things that create breaking apart, as painful as it is, and at the same time, still appreciating that person.” In her voice, there is both sorrow and serenity. She names the ache of human bonds—how they shift, weaken, and sometimes dissolve—yet she also calls us to a higher place: to appreciation, even in loss.

The origin of this truth lies in life itself. As youth passes into maturity, one’s eyes sharpen to the reality that not all relationships endure. The bonds that seemed unbreakable may fray. The promises once sworn with fire may fade into silence. To the young, this feels like betrayal. But with age comes perspective, and with perspective comes acceptance: that distance and change are woven into the fabric of human experience. Goapele, like a sage, acknowledges this without bitterness, balancing pain with gratitude.

This wisdom recalls the story of Cicero, the Roman orator, who in his dialogue On Friendship warned that not all friendships last forever. Some are dissolved by distance, others by betrayal, others still by the natural drift of changing lives. Yet he counseled that even in their ending, one should honor the joy that once was, rather than poisoning the memory with resentment. This is the very truth Goapele names: the paradox of loss with gratitude, of sorrow mingled with appreciation.

Her words also unveil a deeper truth: that human hearts are not static. To expect relationships to remain unchanged is to deny the reality of growth. Sometimes people grow together, and sometimes they grow apart. The tragedy is real, but it is not always born of malice—it is often the natural unfolding of life’s path. And so she speaks of seeing the distance before it becomes final, of recognizing the subtle signs of drifting apart, even as love or respect still lingers.

The sadness she speaks of is honest, but it is not despair. For even as bonds loosen, she reminds us to appreciate the person. This is a mark of true maturity: to give thanks for the role someone has played in your journey, even if they no longer walk beside you. To love is not always to hold forever; sometimes it is to release with gratitude. Herein lies the echo of the ancients, who said that the river of life carries all things away, but we must treasure the waters that once sustained us.

The lesson is clear: accept change with grace, and honor the good even in endings. Do not cling so tightly to what is fading that you destroy the beauty of what was. Instead, practice gratitude for the moments shared, the lessons learned, the joy once given. When relationships shift, resist bitterness. Choose instead to bless what remains.

Practically, this means nurturing a heart that can both love and let go. When you sense distance growing, do not respond only with fear or anger. Speak with honesty, cherish the good, and if parting must come, let it be with dignity. Reflect on what that person brought into your life, and carry it forward as part of your story. This way, no relationship is wasted, for every bond, however fleeting, shapes the soul.

Thus, the teaching of Goapele becomes timeless: relationships are fragile, but their worth is eternal. Even when they change, even when they break, they leave gifts behind. Let us honor those gifts, and in so doing, learn to walk with both open hands and an open heart—ready to love, ready to release, and always ready to give thanks.