When it comes to friendships, you always want to give the other person the benefit of the doubt. You want to believe that they have your best interest at heart, or that they truly care about the little things that make you happy. But lately, the flaws in some of these friendships are coming into light. In our generation it seems so easy to go out and make friends; whether you are in line for coffee, live on the same floor, share a class, or simply smile at each other in an elevator and start chatting.
The ways to make friends are endless, but are these truly "friendships," or simply acquaintances? True friends can either be people you have known your whole life and have grown up with, or they truly could be people you meet in random places and situations. The key to understanding whether they are the friends that you want and deserve is a more difficult matter entirely.
Urban dictionary magnificently sums up what a true friend is: "...someone who has touched your heart and will stay there. Someone you care for who cares for you. Someone you can do the stupidest things around and always be forgiven. Someone you'll instantly remember in 10 years because they are in your heart and not just your mind. They have the ability to change you, even if they don't. They will be etched in your memories forever."
These are the people who try to lift you up when you are down, they take your advice to heart, they remember the silly things that make you smile, and ultimately, they are going to be the ones who are there when you feel as if you are entirely alone in the world. Because they are the friends who will fight to stay in your life, whether you want them to or not. Yes, they can sometimes be the most irritating and ridiculous people in your life, but at the end of the day they will have your back, regardless of whatever tiffs you may have, or arguments that may ensue. These things occur partially because you know each other so well. Not every friendship or relationship in general will ever be perfect, but they are meaningful and worth it nonetheless.
Because at the end of the day the fact that these people actively try to be a part of your life, and challenge you to become the best person you can be, is how you know they are the right people to keep in your life. They see your potential, even if you cannot, and they want to be with you along the incredible journey that is your life. They are the men and women who are essential in your development as an individual, as you are to theirs.
