There’s no doubt that “friendship goals” have become burned into our pop culture subconscious.
It seems as though every friendship, particularly female friendships, should all involve talking in unison, moscato and late night gossip. While fruity wine and gossip do play huge role in several friendships, even the best of friendships, there’s often times more than that. Because friendships above all are relationships. Just like familial and romantic, friendships can also go through rough patches and it’s an important topic we must to discuss.
When I was a pre-teen, I didn’t have many friends, even less so, best friends. I was weird and didn’t smell all that great, so no one was trying to get close to me emotionally or physically.
But I thought when I met “the one,” that we would inseparable and always on the same page. Eventually I did meet my best friend, who is still my best friend to this day. We were inseparable. But not always on the same page, which is fine. We’re two completely different people with our own minds, thoughts and opinions. Disagreeing with a friend on certain issues is perfectly fine and normal.
Especially now into adulthood, friendships are become harder and harder to maintain. Between school, work and the the other thousand things we collegiettes are constantly juggling, friendships suddenly keep slipping further down the totem pole of priorities.
Just a few months ago, a close friend of mine and I went through the ringer. It wasn’t the first time I’ve fought with a friend, but it was the first fight that nearly ended the friendship for good. Luckily for us, it didn’t. Now, at least I feel, that we’re now stronger than ever. We realized that the stress of our outside lives was bleeding into our friendship. But we wouldn’t have gotten to the root of the problem if we hadn’t talked it through first.
Open and honest communication with your best friend is incredibly important. They’re your best friend, you should be able to let them know how you feel (in a calm and tactful way, of course). If you can’t tell your best friend, who can you tell?
Now, this is not to say that all friends are good friends. Toxic friends are a real threat and should be kicked to the curb. Toxicity has no place in a friendship and if you feel that your friend might be toxic, don’t hesitate to tap out. If you’re unhappy in a friendship, you are not obligated to stay. But a fight here and there, that can be fixed.
Your friendship, while not perfect, is still valid.