Friendship is one of the best things in the world! When you first meet a new friend, everything just flows, from the conversation to the laughter, and everything else that comes with it. But it’s the care and maintenance of a friendship that are so important and the things that can help it reach its full potential. To that end, there are a few key points, that add up to a really special friendship...honesty, communication, loyalty, laughter, and simply being yourself. These aspects are truly the gifts of friendship. So here are a few tips on how to balance them all to keep your friendship strong.

Honesty and Communication:

In my opinion, these two go hand in hand. Having a good friend means always communicating in good faith. When I’m with my closest friends, there is nothing that’s off limits. We talk for hours about music, pop culture, fashion, TV, our classes, where we’re going that night. It doesn’t matter the topic, a great friend can talk to you about anything. When I’m happy about something, my friend is the first person I want to tell and when I’m upset, that person is my person, helping me through whatever I’m feeling. Good communication and honest conversation is key to a great friendship.

Loyalty:

Being loyal is one of the key points of friendship. Loyalty is being there for your friends, showing them that you have their back, and being someone they can always trust. A loyal friend is one who listens and validates what the other person is saying and feeling. A good friend will also push you out of your comfort zone to do something fun because they know how good it will feel on the other end. They just know you so well! And in my case, they know how much you hate sharks so they’ll never make you watch Sharknado!

Laughter:

This may sound like an obvious one but it’s nonetheless so important. What is a friendship without constant smiles and laughter? To be light hearted and carefree for a few moments in a day is exactly what the doctor ordered. What’s better than when everyone is hanging out together? That’s the perfect time to put your comedy skills to good use! Although sometimes people may not think it’s what they need, a good laugh could be just the thing to brighten your day! And a great friend can always cheer you up.

Being Yourself:

This is a HUGE one. It is definitely one of the best feelings being around your true friends, talking about any topic, sharing your true opinions, making jokes, talking for hours, and just being you. You know you’ve found a great friend when you can just kick back and not care about anything because being together is the antidote for anything that troubles you.

So, like anything else, the care and feeding of a great friendship takes time and effort, but when you find those people who make you feel great, keep them in your life because in my experience, the gift of true friendship is the best!