Most people have known their best friend since the beginning of high school or college. Friendships that have existed since middle school and even before are usually very rare. I, however, have been lucky enough to know my best friend since I was three years old, which adds up to a whopping 16 years. We have been through literally everything together. Having a friendship that has spanned over two decades is so special. Being friends this long can cause some really interesting and wonderful things to happen.
1. You become a member of their family and vice versa.
I’m an only child but my best friend has three younger siblings. I’ve known my best friend longer than all three of her siblings have been alive. Due to this, I’ve known her siblings since they were babies and they have become like the siblings I’ve never had. Her parents basically treat me like their fifth kid and I’m always welcome in their house. In my family, my best friend is like my parents' other daughter. We have even taken her on family vacations and she pretty much lives at my house.
2. You know everything about each other.
My best friend has been with me through every single stage of my life. She knows every single awkward thing I’ve ever done, every bad outfit choice I’ve ever made, every weird obsession I’ve had and every embarrassing crush I’ve had. And on top of that, she has enough blackmail photos of me from my awkward phase (that lasted a very long time) to last her a lifetime. Luckily, I have all the same for her.
3. Other people may never understand your conversations.
Sixteen years worth of hanging out results in a lot of memories and inside jokes. My best friend and I can literally have conversations that consist of laughing, random references and people you probably have never heard of before. We’re a lot of fun to hang out with, but we know keeping up with our weird conversations can be a headache.
4. You are insanely supportive of each other.
My best friend is the most supportive person I know. She’s been to every single show and cabaret I’ve ever been in, she has read all of my writing and she would do anything for me. She has supported me through every life decision, every time I was upset and so much more. I can only hope I have been half as supportive as my best friend has been for me. I do know that I would do anything for her though.
5. You have been through every friend group together.
As you get older and move to new schools, your group of friends changes dramatically which each new stage. However, in my case, there was one constant and that was my best friend. And when any drama ever flared up, we always had each other’s back.
6. You always have a friend, no matter what.
No matter what has happened in my life, even stages of my life where I felt like I had no friends, I knew I had my best friend. She is always there for me even when I felt like the entire world was against me. It is the best feeling in the world to know you have something like that in your life.
7. You become sisters.
As I said, I am an only child so I never had any sisters but my best friend has become my sister. She knows me better than anyone, we fight like sisters and we know we are always going to be in each other’s lives. If you too are lucky enough to have someone like this in your life, never let them go because what you have is so rare and amazing.
