How to recognise a best friend

Let's make this clear from the start. This article is not about how you will be able to distinguish a best friend from a normal one, nor how to become or find a best friend. This article will just be stating true facts (coming from personal experience) that make up a best friend.

I will start off my saying that I am lucky of having a best friend. She is the person I can always count on, no matter how hard I hit the ground and how bad it feels. She is the person I can truly count on whenever I need cheering up, laughing around, making fun of things, hang out, but most of all - and most importantly - she is the person I can be myself with.

It may seem weird to say "myself" because of course I would be myself. But sometimes it is hard to be your true self when you ave people around that don't really appreciate what you like. You may be into some music that your normal friends hate or cannot stand. But that best friend accepts you no matter your taste in clothes, music or anything else. She accepts the fact that you are a normal human being and by being one, you obviously have different preferences and views on everything. Some things may be in common, which are those points you can talk about, but if something comes up that you happen to support and the other person doesn't... well... that friend will be more than happy to discuss it with you and share an opinion.

Okay, so here it goes. I really don't want to sound cheesy, but I really appreciate this friend of mine. I consider her my sister, and sometimes I wish she was; but its probably for the best that we are not sisters, because that would mean having too many things in common and it is nice to talk about things that we both like and dislike.

If we were sisters we would know everything (or nearly everything) about each other, but we don't. And this is nice, because we have always things to talk about. Even when sometimes we talk about the most random things, I know she might judge for what I say and how I react to certain topics, but HEY, she doesn't.

I know she probably keeps it all inside, but when she expresses her criticism towards me, I do the same with her, and we both have a laugh. I think best friends are also this. Feeling free to talk about things that might sound 'dangerous' at the beginning, but in the end, you just change it around and have a laugh at it.

Whenever I feel a little bit sad, cannot stand who I am (and vice versa)... well.. when we both feel a bit down, we talk to each other, and everything feels better. I don't know how she does it, but she manages to turn my sad black day into a bright summer day. And I do the same. Whenever she feels down, I comfort her and make sure to give the right suggestions whenever she needs them.

This is because whenever she is there for me, I will be there for her, no matter what.

We had our bad moments. When friends fight.. they usually fight hard (especially best friends, maybe because you didn't expect them to behave like they did, but ...) in the end, true friendship always finds its way back. And they say that it is hard to forgive. I know that. But when we think about the reason we fought in the first place, everything seems stupid.

Also best friends understand each other, and are always there to help. This is what true friends are like. I try to be the best friend possible when I am with her because I know that is what I would like for me.

Finding a true friend is hard. I have been through the most difficult friendships but I survived them. Then, it took me sometime, to trust and feel comfortable with people. I found mine, and I hope to keep her because I know I can talk about anything, and she can talk about anything with me.

Best friends are the ones you can count on, the ones that turn your day around, the ones that may know you better than you know yourself, and can get you no matter how bad you messed up. They know how to help you, which stories to share with you to make you understand.

The only thing you can do, is return the favour and be the best friend they can possibly every have.