to me 2017 was a mix of all emotions. Yes, 10 years of friendship do go dry after a certain time as everyone part their ways, no matter how genuine the friendship started out people do change. It was then we realized we were not the old us anymore because we grew throughout the years, whether it is better or others getting worse. Reality hits any young lad or lass especially in the working world, most become too realist and forgot the innocence and passion that were once in them.
SO like you said, "smile often" and people come and go, because when some of our dearest friends leaves, there will be other genuine ones coming