Some friends never ask for anything but your company. Those are the ones to guard.

Most relationships have some exchange running underneath them: a ride, a connection, a bit of status. Then there are people who simply want you in the room and are keeping no account whatsoever. That is rarer than it sounds and easy to take for granted, precisely because nothing is ever asked of you. Nobody like that is going to point out what they are.

Work out who yours are and give them time that is not left over. Invite them to something instead of waiting to be invited. Being somebody’s easy, no-agenda friend is also a thing you get to be.