What it means to be a best friend: How to master the art of friendship
What does it mean to be a best friend? What is the meaning of friendship and what are best friends like? What do friends do? Do best friends ever fight? Can two good friends keep a secret? What is friendship all about? Should I care about my friend? Why did my best friend betray me? Can a guy and girl be best friends and have sex? Which gift should I give to my best friend?
Forget the cliché definitions, quotes and the cute poems for a moment - Here's lesson 101 in the art of friendship.
1) Best friends stand up for each other
"I got your back" While these words may sound superficial, they actually hold a lot of context from a friendship perspective. A best friend will always support you and stand up for you, even if you are wrong.
While he/she may rap you for being wrong later on behind closed doors, in the public eye, your best friends will stand up for you and support you all the way.
2) Best friends lend money to each other
It pains to talk about money when we talk about friendship in the first place. But like every other thing in life, friendship too can be affected by money. While a normal friend may think ten times before lending someone money, a best friend will lend you money without asking too many questions or worrying about whether you will give it back or not.
So unless you are in a financial mess yourself, don't hesitate to lend your best friend some money if he/she is in a soup. All you need to do is know your limits and stop if you think that you are being taken for granted.
3) Best friends are honest with each other
Most of your friends will tell you how good you look in the new dress you've just bought, even if you don't. On the other hand, your best friend will talk to you in private and tell you that the dress needs a little alteration.
While the rest of the world only knows how to be nice on your face, your best friend is supposed to be honest to you in all matters even if honesty and truth hurts. After all, wouldn't you expect your best friend to come and tell you if your partner was cheating on you? Wouldn't you want your best friend to tell you if the new business project that you are about to invest in, is actually a dud? Wouldn't you want your best friend to tell you if your new hairstyle does not suit you?
The list can go on and on, but the bottom line is that honesty is one of the deep rooted foundations of a friendship between two best friends.
4) Best friends share everything and keep secrets
One of the biggest advantages of having a best friend is that you can share all your secrets with him/her. Make no mistake, women are not the only ones who need to share secrets. Guys too, need someone to talk to every now and then.
The flip side of this advantage is the massive responsibility bestowed upon a best friend to keep a secret, well, a secret. Best friends are supposed to hold on to the darkest secrets of their friends, and wow never to utter a word until the day they die.
5) Best friends know each other's families
Are you surprised at the mention of family in this discussion about friendship? Don't be. Because it is considered natural for best friends to know each other's families. It means a lot when someone gives you access to their home and their families, and best friends do just that.
From family gatherings to birthday parties to anniversary celebrations in the family, there's always this extra invite for a family member's best friend.
6) Best friends keep in touch
The whole idea of not being able to keep in touch just because you are in a different city or country and have odd work timings is nothing but a big farce. In the day and age of iPhone, Blackberry, Skype, Viber, Messengers, Facebook and what not, keeping in touch with your friends is possible at the touch of a button, literally.
So if you find yourself giving excuses to your so-called best friends about how busy you've been and not been able to keep in touch, stop putting up the facade of being a best friend in the first place. Best friends keep in touch, no matter what.
7) Best friends keep their hands off each other
Can best friends have sex and carry a physical relationship forward while still remaining just, best friends? Maybe in the movies, but not in real life. If you have happened to get intimate with a best friend in bed, remember that one day or the other, this is going to come and hurt you and your relationship may go sour.
If you are at the verge of taking your best friend to the sack, remember that sex is best saved for your girlfriend or boyfriend, not a friend.
8) Best friends acknowledge their friendship and give each other gifts
If you thought that you don't need to gift something to your best friend simply because your relationship with him/her has reached a stage of complacency, you are mistaken. It is most important that you show your feelings of friendship towards your best friend to give gifts to them on special occasions.
Whether it is a birthday, anniversary or just any other special event, splurge out on a special gift for your best friend and show them how much you appreciate having them in your life. Not only will they reciprocate in kind, but they will also shower you with buckets of love and friendship.
9) Best friends have their own share of fights and arguments
Just like couples, best friends have their share of arguments, fights and misunderstandings too. It is only natural for two distinct human beings to fall out every once in a while. But what separates best friends from the lot is that the former get over their differences and get back to being bum chums.
There is no room for the feelings of hatred between two best friends. While that may be easier said than done, only someone who has actually experienced friendship in its purest form will tell you how best friends put their differences aside and get back to doing what they do best – being best friends.