No matter how amazing my girl friends are, there will always be a special place in my heart for my boys. Over the years, they have taught me more than they will ever know. So, here's a shout out to all the guy friends we hate to love.
How to take a joke.
Guys' jokes are far different than girls' jokes, but they are still jokes. Not taking yourself so seriously is not only blissful, but it is attractive.
How to spot a liar.
Your guy friends can decode texts from your potential bae like no ones business. They have been there and sent some of those texts themselves. Take their advice when they tell you who and what to believe.
Sports are important.
You may not be jumping out of bed every Sunday morning to watch football, but taking an interest in it won't kill you. Odds are, your boys will have ESPN on whenever you are over, and being able to keep up with the chit chat is rewarding. You may even find yourself watching it alone, next time.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
"That was so embarrassing," rarely comes out of a man's mouth. A drunken fall, or forgetting to put on eyeliner is not the end of the world. Remember, there are far greater things to be worried about.
The value of silence.
There is a difference between talking to talk, and the necessity of talking. They will teach you how to appreciate silence so that when you speak it holds purpose, instead of empty gossip or things you don't mean.
Boys do gossip.
In contrast to valuing silence, there are times when boys do gossip, and if they are doing it around you, they trust you. Don't participate. Listen, try to understand, and do not share what you hear.
Say, "I love you," and mean it.
Men don't throw around "I love you" to every dude they meet in the bathroom. Hearing those little three words from your best guy friends truly means they love and care about you. You can never tell enough people how much you love them, but the more careful you are with it, the more weight it will carry.
Boys have feelings, too.
Girls are not the only ones waiting for a call back. No matter their age, guys get messed over, too. They get sad and have bad days. They fight with each other and get offended -- as much as they will deny it.
Wear less makeup.
Real and true friends do not care what you look like and no one teaches you this more than guys. If you feel like you cannot hang with the bros without doing your hair and makeup, then you should not be hanging out with them in the first place. True friends accept and recognize you, no matter the circumstances.
Fight for what you believe in.
Disagreements are common in a house full of boys. Participate in the discussions, know what you stand for, know your nonsense or be prepared to be called out for it.
Loyalty.
True guy friends will stick around long after flings have moved on. They will be sensitive to your well being and look out for you at all costs. Be that friend to others.
Value yourself.
Beyond anything, my guy friends have taught me to value myself -- to value my body, my mind, and my opinions. When they treat you with respect, they are showing you how you should be treated when you find someone in the future, and that you deserve nothing less than the absolute best.
Sometimes, I feel as if I would be lost without my guy friends and, sometimes, they drive me completely crazy. But the lessons they have taught me are some of the most important I've ever learned. So this one is for the boys.
