As we get older, we're introduced to all sorts of different people. There are the people who will lift you up when you're down, hear you out when you need to explain yourself, and make you smile when you feel like there isn't anything left to smile about. There are the people that very obviously aren't good to be around; the type that parties too much, does drugs, and doesn't care about their future. Then there are the type of people that may seem to be a good friend, but are very obviously not. They are the type of people that talk about you behind your back, that are only sorry when they get caught, and give you two-sided compliments. They are the people that only pretend to celebrate your victories and accomplishments. They are the people who camouflage themselves to look like great, supportive friends, but in all actuality they are extremely toxic. Why limit yourself to these types of friendships when there are true, genuine friends by your side? There is nothing more powerful than pure friendship.
Have you ever been heartbroken? Who was there to give you advice that was good for you and who were the ones that were only thankful for the breakup because they got to be closer with you again? Have you ever had an insecurity? Who was there to highlight the insecurity and who was there to overlook it because they knew your real beauty? True friendship means supporting one another through everything, even if it means that you don't get anything out of it. True friendship is not creating drama just to have a good story. True friendship is understanding the other person's place and realizing that for once, maybe you aren't right this time. True friendship isn't just posting a picture on social networking sites to congratulate your friend's successes. True friendship is being by your friend's side the entire time they worked towards those successes, the good and ugly.
A true friend will only make you cry through laughter and happiness. A true friend will really encourage you to be the best version of yourself that you can be. They're the type of friends that aren't just around when it's time to go to the bar. They aren't the friends that only want to get drunk every weekend. They are the friends that are OK with staying inside and doing nothing, because nothing is always a blast with you two.
Having true friends and eliminating the toxic ones out of your life is the most liberating thing you can do for yourself. You will see that those friends that you thought were real, were also the friends that stunted your personal growth. You will see that life makes so much more sense when you only have people around you that truly care about you, that actually know when something isn't OK. Choosing real friends means that you're choosing happiness, success, and most importantly: love instead of animosity. The power of true friendships might just be one of the most powerful, most beautiful things we have in this world. Don't waste that.
"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul."
--Proverbs 27:9
