No one likes being yelled at. Not by coworkers, bosses, teachers, family, and usually, friends. Being told we are not doing something good enough hurts our egos and makes us feel inadequate. In spite of that, I'd like to extent a sincere thank you to all of the friends who have ever yelled at me. Truly, thank you. Thank you for being honest and loving me enough to tell me that I'm capable of doing or deserving better.
Honesty is the best policy, as they say, but no one addresses how it can be the most difficult thing to be utterly honest to a close friend when you disagree with how they're handling a situation. It is not easy to find a good recipe of sincerity, love, and support while not sugar coating how you feel they can improve an aspect of their life. Although the initial reaction might not be a warm-hearted "thank you," the end result most likely will be. I have never lost a friend from their suggestions, but rather realized who my true friends are.
With that being said, to all of my friends who have ever gave me an honest lecture on how I am handling life: thank you. Thank you for telling me when I'm being too stubborn. Thanks for telling me when I have complained more about something than fixed it. Thank you for telling me when I deserve better. Thank you for letting me having a pity party when life hasn't gone my way, but then helping me pack it up when it was time to move on and be better. And most importantly, thank you for sticking by my side and helping me improve myself while not giving up on me.
The best kinds of friends aren't the ones that sit there and nod their head in approval when they know you're not being the best version of yourself, but the ones who push you to do better when they know you're capable of more. It takes bravery to tell your friends they are capable of achieving more, and I'm so happy to say that I have those kinds of people in my life who I can only hope to do that same for.
