As a person who loves very easily and very often, I struggle a lot with the idea of having just one best friend. Honestly, I don't know many people that use the term "best friend" exclusively. I have a lot of best friends, all who deserve the maximum amount of credit for being a joy in my life.
To my childhood best friends, thank you for pretty much doing it all. Thank you for being there during my most awkward moments (i.e. middle school) and for loving me anyway. Thank you for a lifetime's worth of memories. Thank you for sleepovers, deep talks, motivation, and for always being a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for telling me when my bad ideas are truly horrible. Thank you for telling me when my good ideas are really great. Your friendship can never be matched, simply because you watched me as a child and you're helping me through my adult life as well. You were there for most of my firsts, and I hope you continue to support me for the rest of my life. I can never repay you for all the love you have given me through these many years. They say once you hit seven years of friendship, you move into a lifelong friendship. Basically, I couldn't get rid of you if I tried, and I'm more than okay with it.
To my high school best friends, thank you for dealing with me during some of the toughest years. Thank you for seeing me in some of my most "I don't care" moments. Thanks for watching me actually transition from a child into a functioning person. Thanks for sticking around through the stress of school and sports and extracurriculars and work. Thanks for being my weekend go-tos and my weekday stress relief. Seeing your face in the hallway made those six hours a little less painful. You are the first person I want to see when I come home from college, simply because I am grateful our friendship has endured long distance. I am so thankful for your endless, unconditional love.
To my college best friends, thank you for taking me in. Thank you for wanting to live with me and be around me and for wanting to do everything with me. Thank you for late nights studying and later nights goofing off. Thank you for helping me and guiding me as I decide what the heck I want to do with the rest of my life. Thank you for showing me that there are so many kind hearts and souls in this world. Thank you for letting me eat your food and nap in your bed. Thank you for teaching me that I am a lot stronger than I think I am. Thank you for helping me figure out this adulting thing. Thank you for being my home away from home. I am so glad to have met you, and cannot wait to live out the rest of these years with you
And to my ex-best friends, thank you for being part of my life at one point. You have taught me that every single person has something to give, something you can learn from. I am sorry that we are not compatible enough to keep up a friendship. I am sorry if it is my fault we drifted or fell apart, and am equally sorry if fault lands on you. I still love you, care about you, and am checking up on you. Part of me hopes you're doing that too.
I could not be who I am without the people I surround myself with. Each person has not only filled my heart up with love, but has taught me something about myself or about the world around me. I am humbled to have so many wonderful people in my life, and cannot wait to see what the future holds with each of my best friends.
