My friend was talking about feeling obliged to keep connections with significant people in your past, even if they aren’t the nicest to be around. What I said to them, is that I think about a list of people who treat me the best in my life, who actively show that they care for me, and those are the people I prioritize. I gave them a few examples; my parents who are unconditionally there for me, my sister who teaches me how to be an adult, the friend I was talking to who would come to my place in a heart beat if I told them I needed them (not to mention I genuinely enjoy the closeness n comfort of our relationship), Jess who tells me almost every day not just that she loves me, but why she loves me, and my coworkers who always have my back professionally and socially. Anyone who doesn’t provide me with an honest, positive connection comes second.