"Show up with and for your friends. You matter, and your presence matters." (Jessica, 40)

Conversely, while enforcing stricter boundaries on who we let into our lives, many readers advised to make the time for those friends and family that we do decide to keep close.

"I think sometimes I may have taken some relationsh.i.p.s for granted, and when that person is gone, they're gone. Unfortunately, the older you get, well, things start to happen, and it will affect those closest to you." (Ed, 45)

"Appreciate those close to you. You can get money back and jobs back, but you can never get time back." (Anne, 41)

"Tragedy happens in everyone's life, everyone's circle of family and friends. Be the person that others can count on when it does. I think that between 30 and 40 is the decade when a lot of shit finally starts to happen that you might have thought never would happen to you or those you love. Parents die, spouses die, babies are still-born, friends get divorced, spouses cheat… the list goes on and on. Helping someone through these times by simply being there, listening and not judging is an honor and will deepen your relationsh.i.p.s in ways you probably can't yet imagine." (Rebecca, 40)