We all know that being a friend is a responsibility in itself. We have to be there for them and always have their backs as we gain each other’s trust and respect, while still having time and space for ourselves.
Friendship is just as hard as any other relationship. Sometimes, there would be challenges, or we would be unaware of how our actions are hurting our friends.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to be the best friend you can be.
Listen Genuinely
When you decide to meet each other in person—which may not be that often these days because of the pandemic—for goodness’ sake put your phone down.
A good conversation requires two people to meet halfway. It’s a give-and-take situation in which both have to be great listeners and storytellers at the same time. Listen to them and don’t make the entire conversation all about you, especially when they’re venting out their frustrations and pain.
Be Open with Them
You should also allow yourself to trust them and share with them personal things about you. It’s not being selfish—it’s just that you want your friends to know more about you. Trust me, they won’t feel bad if you also talk about yourself; in fact, they’d even appreciate it because they also get to know you better.
Be Reliable and Loyal
A friend is always there when the world turns its back on you. Be trustworthy and remain loyal to them. Whenever they share their secrets, keep them to the grave. Whenever they made a mistake, don’t turn your back on them; instead, be there for them as they learn their lessons.
For better or for worse, always be there for them and show your undying support. Even if you can’t always be there physically, a sincere text or phone call will be appreciated more than you expect.
Know When to Say “I’m Sorry”
Take full responsibility for your actions, especially if you did or said something wrong. Don’t be too prideful not to apologize to them, even if you didn’t intend on hurting them.
Don’t be quick to assume that you’re always right just because you’re the eldest in the group, or perhaps you’re the smartest and most logical among them. Your friends have feelings too, and they can get hurt. Be the better person and talk things out.
Learn How to Forgive
Nobody is perfect. On the flip side, even your friends might commit mistakes and might offend you. That doesn’t mean that you have to hold a grudge against them and break off your friendship.
When you learn about each other and trust them well enough to be able to forgive them when they’re genuinely sorry, your friendship will mold into a strong and beautiful diamond.
Go the Extra Mile
It’s one way of showing your gratitude and your loyalty to them. It’s not as hard as you might it is—it could be as simple as bringing them their favorite ice cream in the middle of the night when they’re upset, or holding their hair back while they’re puking after having one too many drinks. You can also ask them how their day is going just because you want to know how they’re feeling as of the moment.
Manage Your Expectations
They won’t be there in five minutes after you called them because life is not like the movies. They won’t always be able to give you your favorite present because that Rolex watch just costs way too damn much! They won’t be able to solve your problems right away because they have problems of their own as well.
Don’t expect so much from your friends because it will only hurt all of you. Besides, even if they can’t provide you with all your wants, they have unconditional love and support for you—I think that’s better than a thousand Rolex watches.
Have Fun
Travel together, taste those bizarre ice cream flavors, prank each other (within personal boundaries) and have a laugh with them! You don’t always have to be serious when you’re together because there’s enough seriousness at work or at school. Friends should be there to help each other take the seriousness and stress out of their lives—at least for a while.
There were times when I can say that I’m the greatest friend in the entire universe, but there were also times when I must admit that I am just the worst.
Even so, I don’t believe it’s a sin if we weren’t always there for them because we might be physically distant, or because you have your personal things to deal with as well.
I think that the true meaning of friendship is knowing that even if we aren’t exactly there for each other physically, we all know that they’ll always be in our minds and hearts, and that despite the ups and downs in life, our relationship with them is a constant.