Without a doubt, we all experience friendships that fade, and ones that stick. It's bound to happen with our changing lives, jobs, and our ever-changing list of activities we're involved in. So the question is, how and why should we maintain our close friendships?

1) Put good in, get good out.

Investing enough time and effort is especially important because, without these, the friendship falls apart. Become aware of the steps you plan to put into place to maintain your friendship. What goes around, comes around. If you put in the good work, you'll reap the happy benefits.

2) "I got family who ain't blood, and blood that ain't family."

You know who values you when they make you a priority in their life. They don't drop your weekend plans for ones that sound more fun or exciting, and they aren't picky over parts of you they want to love, and the ones they want to ignore. They let you cry to them about how bad of a day you're having, they share in your accomplishments, and most importantly, they're there for you emotionally when you're not back home with your family.

3) Involvement and feeling appreciated.

Being left out feels pretty darn rotten, and I'm sure it's a feeling we've all experienced at one point in our lives (if not, tell me your ways!) Friendships, like any relationship you will ever have, have a reciprocal nature of quality and intimacy. If we want to be involved, and feel appreciated in our friendships, then we must display feelings of appreciation and inclusion to our friends, in order to receive those feelings in return.

4) Have meaningful conversations.

We develop ourselves through the friendships we acquire along the way, and through these friendships, our own views are challenged (which is a good thing!) As you become closer, your conversations become more genuine, and your bonds grow deeper. Finding, and maintaining, a friendship with someone who appreciates and accepts your differences is definitely a keeper!

5) And who doesn't want to hold on to friends who care about you as much as this?

This gif says it all. Friends provide support like no other! Friends who love you at the low points, support you at your highest, leave you with sticky notes of encouragement, and care about you enough to go the extra mile just to let you know you're cared for.

These are the friendships you need to be investing your time and energy into, because they're special to you, and you know they've got your back. :)