To those who were once believers and are now atheists, some advice?

[OGirly]

I lost a good friend when I left Islam. Her and I were, at least I thought, very close. It was really abrupt as well, and I'd have to say the lack of closure made it extremely difficult. I could understand if she had told me or at least talked to me about not wishing to be friends anymore, but simply just ending the friendship out of nowhere is hard to swallow. Sadly I can't say the relationship ever recovered. We tried to meet up for lunch one day a few months back, but it wasn't the same. We both had been very religious, and spent a lot of our time together at the masjid helping with programmes etc. We just couldn't find much in common anymore as Islam really is the fulcrum of her life, and when we were friends it dominated both of our lives.

I can say though that since I left my religion, and have had more time to devote to other interests (organisations at university etc) I've met new friends who have similar interests as me. Learning to accept the reality that people come into our lives and also leave our lives really helps make things like this easier. That friend was there for you when you needed her, and you were there for her. People grow apart. It hurts, but it's natural. Hang in there. You'll meet new friends. They won't replace your old friends, but they will be great in their own right