33 People Who Hilariously Recreated Their Childhood Photos

It's also possible that friends fill in the gaps left by family or provide support in ways family members can't or won't, he adds. Friends may also understand you on a different level than family, due to shared experiences and interests. This is why it's so important to maintain ties with old friends or make the effort to reconnect if you've lost touch with your childhood bestie or sorority sister. While life changes and distance can make this difficult at times, the benefits are well worth the effort to pick up the phone or send that email.