My friends have always been really important people to me. They're the people that we pick to be in our lives because we love and respect their individual personalities and characteristics. They are the people that we choose to hang around simply because of the greatness of their being. This is what those amazing people have taught me.
1. How to properly listen to music.
Having a diverse group of friends allows for a lot of learning experiences...and a lot of different music tastes. Having to listen to a rang of music spanning from reggae to EDM to rap teaches you how to truly enjoy a wide variety of music. When you get exposed to someones favorite artist and how passionate they are about it, it's a little hard not to do a little dance when your friends favorite song comes on.
2. How to take a joke.
Getting to the better parts of a friendship means that you will eventually get to one inevitable stage: the point where you start making fun of each other. No matter what, you and your friends both know you can't stay mad at them for very long. At some point you have to learn not to take very joke so seriously-and also learn to throw a few punches in the process.
3. How to listen.
It's really, really easy to get caught up in everything happening in your own life to the point where you stop taking an interest in the things that are happening around you. But when your friend calls you late at night needing to vent you know it's time to set your own agenda aside and listen to what's going on. Having close friends you care about makes you realize that you aren't the only one with problems and sometimes it's OK to shut up and listen.
4. How to have fun.
As someone who is pretty stressed out and worried most of the time, this was probably one of the most important things my friends taught me. They helped show me that maybe I don't need to have the next ten years planned out and that maybe it's okay to take a break every once and a while. I mean honestly, what are friends if not just designated people to have fun with?
5. How to step out of my comfort zone.
Having friends that are really different from you means that they're going to have a lot of different interests and likes. As a good friend, it's often your job to accompany them on these journeys and put on your bravest face even when it forces you to do something completely opposite of what you're used to.
6. How to be compassionate.
This was another thing that had never really come naturally to me. Whenever your friend is sad and down, sometimes you have to suck it up and be a little soft for the sake of the person you care about.
7. How to be unapologetically myself.
Finding those certain people that love you, flaws and all, makes you realize you should do the same. Oftentimes, those people see the cool, special side of you not a lot of people get to experience, which makes the love you have for them, and yourself, so much stronger.
8. How to eat three whole pizzas together and not feel bad about it.
This one's pretty self-explanatory...we eat a lot of pizza.
9. How to be honest.
When you care about someone it can be hard to tell them something that you know they don't want to hear. Good friends respect and admire your honesty, and everyone comes out better in the end when you give your friends the honest truth.
10. How to be a better me.
Because when you're surrounded by wonderful people, how could you not want to be a better version of yourself?
