What is a true friend? What's the criteria for a friend for you? Is it someone who helps you when it's convenient? Or is it someone who goes out of their way to make you happy? Someone whose door is always open. A person who will call back and check up and see what the outcome of whatever situation is. A friend is someone who doesn't mind going above and beyond to satisfy your needs, whatever they may be.

What a true friend is not, is someone who just does something for you only when there's something in return. You can't have someone who's always asking, "What's in it for me?" That's a temporary friend, which is OK. Not everyone is meant to be there for the rest of your life and that's neither person's fault. No one can make themselves a permanent fit for you. You can't make a puzzle piece from a different box fit. The more you struggle to make a person who's only supposed to be there for a small portion of your life a friend forever, the more happiness you'll be losing out on in your life. You can't choose who your true friends are. Temporary friends aren't always needed, though. We've all had to deal with those fake friends who drain us emotionally and sometimes even physically. Those friends you don't need to keep around at all. Cut them out as soon as you can.

A true friend is someone who doesn't mind going out and getting you that ice cream after a breakup and may just end up getting two or three pints just to make sure you're okay. A friend is a person who doesn't mind just taking you out for a drive just to clear your mind. But the question still stands, what is the criteria for a friend?

What I see in my friends is everlasting compassion. No matter how many dumb things I do in my life, I know I can count on my best friend, Madeleine, to be that shoulder I can cry on. Friends have so much understanding for you. No matter what complex trial I go through, I can always count on my friends to at least try to understand what it is I'm going, though. The everlasting love that I get from my friends is sometimes more like the love that I receive from family. And that leads me to my biggest example.

What a true friend will always be is someone you can call family. The thing that makes friends so much like family is the accountability factor that comes with true friendship. My best friend has been there for me through any and everything that's happened to me. No matter how many fights we've gotten in, she's always there.

What makes a true friendship thrive isn't how compassionate, understanding or accountable that person is. The thing that makes friendships continue is how much you bring to the table. Friendships can't be something that's always take, take, take. You have given just as much as you receive. You have to always ask yourself if you're being the kind of friend you want to have. We all have those days when we're not the best kind of friend but being forgiving is key to being a true friend.