How Friendships Change as People Get Older When we are young, making friends can seem easy. We see people every day at school, work, or in our neighbourhoods, and friendships often grow naturally. As we get older, things change. Work, marriage, family responsibilities, distance, and personal goals can make it harder to spend time with friends. You may also discover that you no longer have much in common with some people you once considered close friends. At the same time, you may develop deeper friendships with people who understand the person you are becoming. Growing older doesn't necessarily mean having fewer friends. It can mean becoming more selective about the people you keep close. A good friendship does not always require daily conversations. Sometimes, real friendship is simply knowing that someone is there when you need them. As life changes, friendships can change too — and that's perfectly normal.