She didn't wish me a Happy Birthday, why should I wish her one?

Should I text her if she is okay? We don't really talk.

Why would I get her a Christmas present? She didn't get me one.

Drowning in the hand to hand mentality of what our friendships are built on. How the people around us can directly benefit our lives. Rather trying to make other people's lives better. Do we really know the reason why we have encountered the humans we have today? It was no accident you were in the same class, it was no accident you were roommates, and it was no accident they crossed your path when they did. We have grown up always receiving a reward when we did something. So we have manipulated our vision of what a friendship really is.

What do we even consider a friend anymore? Is it a person that we take good selfies and Instagram pictures with? Is it a girl that always post heart eyes on your pictures? Is it the girl that screams "Come take a shot with me!" across the room at the party.

Or is it the girl you can call at 4am when your boyfriend has left you in utter tears? Is it the girl that says the tough words that need to be said to you when you are being rude or dramatic? Love is not pretty and mushy, real love is tough and hard to receive sometimes. But you will never second guess their genuine love for you.

Being that friend that would wake up to that 4 am phone call. Might be mad that it is 4 am, but is more worried, "why is my friend not able to sleep at 4 am?" Be the friend that takes the phone call, and are more worried about their friend then the loss of their beauty sleep.

Why does there always have to be something in return? Why can't we do something nice without wanting something back? Love your friends and give them your all. Even if you do not receive all in return, you will remember what you did for someone you love. It is not a necessity for instant gratification.

People will surprise you, people surprised me. When you love others with all you have, yes disappointment hurts, but there is something that hurts more. Knowing you held back from loving someone that needed your love the most in that moment. Stop comparing your past experience with that person to what is happening in that moment. Stop looking for what they have done for you and wonder what you can do for them. Love them in that moment, in that spot in their life instead of wondering what you are going to get if you do.

"For if one life breathed easier because you existed that is true success" --Emerson

Now I thank you, Thank you for loving me where I am and was at, in every moment of my life. You showed me true colors of friendship. No matter where our paths will cross, part or fade. I will never second guess the love of our friendship. You were my friend, never asking anything in return.

Thank you Christine Vang for instilling life and encouragement into me when I doubted my abilities as a woman.

Thank you Raina Hillert for taking care of me when I have been at my lowest and saddest.

Thank you Rachel Bartnik for being the calm to my stormy drama.

Thank you Araceli Garza for reminding me that I'm beautiful, and to never settle for less than what I deserve.

Thank you Jaylin Shaffer for being the one that I can call when I need a good laugh or beautiful smile. To remind me that life is not all bad.

Thank you Alison Karasienski for always being up for adventure and giving me the fire to stand in new places.

You all might not get a thank you from me every day like you deserve. But you have shaped who I am now as a woman. You have proved to me, when you invest into your beautiful friends. They give back in passion, love, and would cross mountains for you.

You get what you put into this life. So, be their friend with out worrying what you are going to get back in return.