“One of the guys” is such an interesting phrase, especially when it comes from your best friend. Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the girly things in life and play in the mud with your guys, even if it means driving three hours to hang out with your best guy friend.

Even though we’re more than 300 miles apart, I know you’re always there for me. Whether it’s 3 a.m. or 8 in the evening, I can pick up the phone, give you a call and you’ll do anything to listen to me. You always make my problems yours and have me smiling within five minutes. Thank you for being there for me even when you're not actually here.

Thank you for including me. I know it’s hard to befriend the new girl at work, but you did it anyway. You made your friends mine and included me in all your plans when I was staying in your town for work. You gave me a sense of friendship when I was the quiet new girl who didn’t know anything and made me feel a little less awkward.

You brought me out of my comfort zone so many times. Whether it was trying a new snowboarding trick or shooting a bow for the first time, you taught me to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise because I knew you would help me if I got hurt.

Thank you for introducing me to a new genre of music. You opened my eyes and my ears to see all music as beauty. You gave me songs you “thought I would like” before introducing me to your favorites, showing just how much you wanted me to appreciate your music. You’ve given me an eclectic music taste, and for that I’m eternally grateful.

You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve gone through so much heartbreak, trauma and stress, yet you’ve never let these things get you down. You see the glimmer of goodness in everything, and for that, I admire you. You’ve shown me true positivity and even helped me become a more optimistic person myself.

Thank you for talking to me until the wee hours of the morning just so I could stay awake to do a paper. Even if you have to be up for work at 5 in the morning, you’d stay up all night with me if it meant helping me out. You’re the kindest person I know, and one day I hope to be just half as kind as you are.

You’ve shown me true friendship. After weeding through all the fake friends and horrible ex-boyfriends, you’ve never been anything less than my best friend. You’ve stood by me through everything and never once turned your back on me. Although we live so far apart, you will forever be my best friend. We don’t get to talk every day, but when we do finally talk, it’s like no time has passed. Thank you for being my best friend.

Your Best Friend.