Although friendship is universal, depending on experiences and relationships between others the term friendship can me something different to everyone. In retrospect, there may not even be a true definition of what an amazing friend is or what friendship is about, it’s about something you see and feel. People may be quick to judge when couples say I love you too fast, or how someone can become your friend over the span of a week. Time really means nothing, what you feel means everything. In college it’s easy to feel alone and lost because of all these different changes that are occurring all at the same time. If you’re away from home it’s difficult to find your balance sometimes without someone catching you there when you fall, and that, that in my opinion is what friends are for. Ever since I can remember, people come and go in your life just like the passing of the seasons, and the people who enter at whatever time in your life and stay are the people that you can sing the Disney Pixar Toy Story classic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to. Although it was previously said, there may no be true definition to a good friend, but at this point in time, I can make notice of when you’ll know that your friendship is special.
They care about your well-being.
Hindsight is 20/20 and sometimes it seems difficult when you trust too fast or confide in others because people have done you wrong. However, when your friends with the right person(s) it’s given that your friendship is safe and sound. Your well-being doesn’t just include you your health but it’s texts like “let me know when you get home” or making sure to ask you how you are anytime you guys see eachother. The main reasoning behind this well-being is that friends care. You know how great your friends are when you mutually care about eachother.
There’s never a dull moment.
Not that there are bad friends out there, admit it, some of your acquaintances are just people you have class with or only go out with from time to time, it’s easy to have fun with anyone anywhere but with an ever lasting friend, it doesn’t matter what you all are doing, it’s always a good time. From sitting around and simply talking about your ideas and how you feel about certain subjects to spending the day at an amusement park or anywhere really, you are both in such a free and safe environment there’s no room for any pouts- only smiles!
Friends don’t let friends fail, friends push to success.
Okay okay yes, as the spectacular Kate Spade said, “to err is human” we sometimes fail and it can’t always be stopped, failure helps someone become stronger. Although sometimes it can’t be stopped, it can be prevented and that’s what family and friends are for. In some cases, sometimes you rely on your friends more than family because of personal reasons, proximity, or just because they seem to be the only family you feel like you have. Your friends should never persuade you to fail, or make sure you fail. If there is someone in your life who seems to feel like a friend, but makes sure you go downstream without a paddle- the friendship is not real and not everlasting. A friend in my opinion is someone who wants to see you shine and wants to see you be happy. They want both of you to grow together and you should help eachother reach goals and catch eachother from falling in the meantime. Friends you know that will stick with you are the ones who won’t push you off the edge of the mountain but climb with you to the peak.
There’s always time for you.
We all get busy especially during midterms or trying to find the right balance between work and school or school and an internship, or school and school whatever it may be, mental breaks are a necessity and in the break of time your friends are waiting to catch up with you so they will make sure to see you. Not even with a busy schedule, if you’re visiting your home town for the first time in 3 months, there really isn’t a “I’m not sure if I can see you” reply with a good friend there’s more of a “Can’t wait to see you, pick you up in 10!”. Of course in some cases friends aren’t always at a hands reach availability but if they are it should be a given that you’ll be able to see eachother. From personal experience, I never truly belonged to my group of friends while growing up, I was always giving without any consideration or time or care for me. Up until my junior year of high school, my life forever changed because I was granted such luck with my friends, those friends that will drive 6 hours just to spend a weekend with me. It may not be the big things like that but it’s the small thoughts and trying that counts.
They know you and they accept you for it.
It’s difficult trying to feel accepted not for social status but for comfort and freedom, the ability to be your pure self without limitation. It’s a strong feeling of elation when you’re with people who not only care about you but they know who you truly are on the inside and out and they love you just the way that is. Friends don’t want to change you, they want you to feel safe with them and be able to have a great time because everyone is comfortable with eachother, something everyone years for. If you feel bad about who you are when you’re with your “friends” take a step back and realize you deserve something better than that.
The list said prior of what makes a good friend must not only come from your specific friend or your entire friend group but from you as well. It takes two to tango, and it’s important that you treat your friends the way you want to be treated. You should reciprocate how you feel because all someone needs sometimes is knowing that you care about them just as much as they care about you. All friendships are different and these important statements written are what makes a friendship important to me personally. If you feel as though you can only relate to something’s, make sure to take note of what you expect in a friendship and what you want, life is too short to be anything be but happy and it’s important to be happy and make memories with great friends! After all, “some people are worth melting for”.
