Sometimes the best friendships are found in the most unexpected places and stick for the weirdest reasons. My two longest friendships began in elementary school; one started in second grade when I transferred to a new school, and the second started in fourth grade after a field trip. Thankfully, I'm still friends with these two amazing people. After more than ten years of friendship, I've noticed that there are some major differences between my new and old friendships.
1. You don't need to talk every day
After high school and college, it's harder to see your friends every day, and while that undoubtedly stinks, it's not the end of the world. I've noticed that with the friends I've known the longest, we don't feel the need to talk every single day. We realize that we are busy, and hang out when we can. If plans don't work out, we reschedule; it's as simple as that. You are comfortable enough in your friendship to know that you're not angry at the person, just busy. You also know that they'll be there when you truly need them.
2. You're comfortable around each other
With new friendships, there is a bit of a facade that you present. You want to make the best impression, and hide your less-than-desirable qualities, but with people that you've known for awhile, that facade slips more and more the longer you know them until all that is left is the true you. But the truth is you don't want to hide behind a facade around them because you know that they love you no matter what (even if you are the quirkiest person around).
3. You've been through everything together
Life is far from easy, and when life throws its punches, you're going to need someone there to lean on. I've been through a lot with my best friends: graduation, adjusting to college, familial loss, long distance, and so much more. With my best friends, I feel no need to go it alone because I know they will say exactly what I need to hear in that moment because they've seen me through every high and low. Even if they don't say anything, sharing with my best friends all of the crap I'm dealing with is therapeutic in and of itself. Whenever something good or bad happens, the first people I want to tell are my best friends because they know what it took for me to get to that point.
4. Distance isn't an issue
When you've been friends for a long time, you know nothing is going to change that if you don't let it. Distance seems like a big obstacle to face, but in reality, there are so many ways to stay in touch. With my best friends our communication isn't always through words, but sharing a recipe or a video that we know the other person would enjoy. Something that has been particularly bonding is watching the same tv show to close some of the distance between you. I truly believe that laughter and "Broad City" are the keys to long-distance friendships.
5. You call each other out on your crap
You know how to read their body language and tell when they're lying; especially if they are attempting to lie to themselves. After years of friendship, you've become familiar with their patterns, and particularly when they're about to do something stupid. Obviously, you care about them, so calling them out on these kinds of things is no big deal when you know you're trying to save them from the same old crap that they pull.
Friendship is strange sometimes, but it is definitely necessary, and it only gets stranger the longer you've been friends. You know where your friend has come from (physically, mentally, and emotionally) and you know their most secret desires for the future. With old friendships, there's no need to plan a specific activity because hanging out with them watching tv is all you really want or need. Your friendship is easy and familiar because there's no pretending in your friendship. Sometimes, I forget how I can be such close friends with two people that are so different from me, but I instantly remember when we all hang out together and our friendship is so simple and natural. I wouldn't be able to precisely explain how or why my friendship works with my best friends, just that it does, and without them, I would be incredibly lost.
