Who is your best friend?
Think about the late night phone calls, constant Snapchats taken at horrific angles, endless inside jokes that only you think are funny, or tagging each other in the comments of an Instagram post.
The tears shared, the advice given and taken, the fights had, and the nights spent together; the days, weeks, maybe months that you go where you see each other every day but never get tired of each other.
I know someone just popped into your head. That person is one to be cherished.
See, a best friend is so much more than just a friend. They are not only there for the fair weather. They stay even when it's raining — you can argue, and scream, and yell, and say things to each other that you don't mean, but they will not go anywhere because they love you as much as humanly possible. You bring something to their life that cannot be replaced and hopefully they do the same for you.
That person you're thinking of right now… What if they were gone tomorrow?
What would you do? Would you scream up to the sky? Would you crumple into a ball? Would a million thoughts of what you wish you could've said to them race through your head? Think deeply about it because, in reality, we never really know the last time we might be seeing someone.
I am lucky enough to have several people I consider my best friends. They are beautiful, wonderful, intelligent people that all bring something equally incredible to my life. They teach me new things every day and they are truly a big part of what makes my life so great. Recently, I’ve been thinking about them a lot because of a death of someone dear to me.
A few weeks ago, my mother quite suddenly and tragically lost her best friend of nearly 40 years. Someone she pictured herself growing old with. Someone who she, and our whole family, saw as a member of the family. Someone she thought she would see for the rest of her life. I know you have someone or many people like this in your life. I do too, and it’s made me think.
How often do you tell your best friend you love them? How often do you tell them what makes them so great — why you love them? Why you appreciate them? Is it every time you have that thought, is it once a day, once a week, once a year? Never?
Of course, you know you love them and you know why, but do they? Probably, but just because they do doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep telling them. Contrary to popular belief, saying “I love you” frequently does not diminish its worth, and telling someone why you think they’re so amazing will never do anything but make their day or maybe even their entire week.
So, my dear reader, I challenge you to do this: tell everyone you love that you love them frequently and without hesitation. Let them know how special to you they really are. We are all different. Some people have a hard time saying or accepting that big L word, but you know your best friend. Get the point across in a way that best suits them.
Whether that’s checking in on them and asking how their day went or how their classes or job is going, sending a picture or a link to something that reminded you of them, or even just shooting them a text that says "thinking of you.”
Open yourself up to love, cherish those who are present and with you. Twitter, Facebook, whatever can wait. Make human connections. Make them meaningful, and never ever be afraid to let someone know what they mean to you.
Life is fleeting, it is inconsistent, and it is daunting, but everything is easier with a friend.
