One thing that we all know is that best friends, true best friends, are hard to find. We think we find them and then, upon further inspection and the test of time, you realize they were just a close friend. But not a true best friend. And once we find these best friends, we want nothing but the absolute best for them. This includes many things, career, family, decisions, and relationships. So here's a message to all the guys (and we know there's several) who want to date my best friend:

1. Take her on real dates

Now I don't mean any of those cliche dinners and a movie dates. Those are all good and fine, but I mean dates with substance. Take her to an amusement park, take a walk through a flower garden, climb a rock wall, go on a white water rafting adventure, or go to an escape room. Do something where you build memories and get to know each other more than just the "where are you from?" and "what do you do?"

2. Pay for things

I know that in this day and age guys paying for things for women have been seen as degrading and taking the independence away from the woman. Don't use it as a power trip, but do it because it's the gentlemanly thing to do, especially on the first date. If she really has an issue with it, take turns paying for dates or you buy dinner and she can buy dessert.

3. Listen to her

This may seem like a simple thing to do, but I mean, do more than just learn her favorite song and what she is allergic to. I mean, listen when she says her back hurts, listen when she's anxious, listen when she tells you what you need to work on (I know she will do the same), listen when she says she feels uncomfortable about that female friend you're close to.

4. Surprise her

It can be hard to surprise someone after you've been together awhile or even if you just know them really well. But surprises don't have to be some grand scheme or some expensive trip. It can be bringing her her favorite food to work or buying her that new book she's been talking about. It could be as simple as giving her a back massage.

5. Trust her

Trust is vital in a relationship. Without trust, a relationship will die. It may not end, but it will die and no one wants to be in a dead relationship. Trust her when she says she's just going out with friends, trust her when she says she only wants you, trust her when she says she's taking herself on a date with herself.

6. Respect her

Another one of those things that seem like a no-brainer, but apparently it isn't. Respect her decision to stay home and respect her decision to start going to the gym; respect her body, her mind, and her heart. Respect her opinion; you won't always agree on things, but respect her opinion anyways even if you don't agree. Respect her enough to know boundaries with other women, including your female best friend. She is an amazing woman who deserved to be respected and nothing less than that.

7. Care for her (even when she says she doesn't need it)

There will be times when she's feeling down, and being the woman who is used to taking care of herself, she won't tell you that she's feeling down. Even if she does, she won't always let you take care of her. Take care of her even when she insists that she can take care of herself; we all know that she can, but it doesn't mean she has to do it alone. Don't get discouraged when you're met with resistance, just have patience and know that she really appreciates everything you do for her. Trust me, she messages me every time you do.

8. Let her be independent, but still, protect her

She is so independent that she can't always see when she needs to be protected, so keep an eye out and protect her. When you protect her, don't stifle her independence. Protect her from the world and herself. She can't always see when something harmful is happening.

9. Don't hog her from me!

Best friends are so precious and hard to find, and no matter how much you love her, I love her too. If you meet all these and more, then I'm so excited and happy for her, but please don't hog her because I need her too! She is my person. I need to spend time with her too, but trust that most of our time will be spent talking about you. Whether those are good or bad things, that depends on you.