We’ve all had best friends or good friends, and we never keep one for too long. A best friends isn’t someone who turns their back on you, they don’t ignore you at critical times.  I haven’t had a best friend for more than three years. However each one I did have, helped me through hell and back. From these experiences, I have learned the true qualities of a best friend. They have to be able to communicate, be understanding, and be trustworthy.

            The first, and most important, quality is the ability to communicate. Each friend must be able to communicate and express themselves to each other. If they fail to converse and state how they feel, they then lose the ability to help each other. I once had a friend who I liked very much. We lived far away from one another and neither of us could drive. I talked to her when I could but school always seemed to push us further from each other. She talked to me when I couldn’t and vice versa. Whenever I did have the chance to talk to her, she made my day better. The relationship, though, quickly deteriorated till we barely even knew each other. I do regret not trying to fix what I knew was going wrong; however, I advise people always to have that strong basis of a friendship.

            Trustworthiness is second because of its major role in a healthy affinity. If you could talk to a person, it doesn’t mean you can trust them. I have noticed people, including myself, telling important information to people that will go out and be the LA Times for you. They will tell everyone your secret and almost certainly wreck your life. If you could trust the person with your biggest and darkest secrets, they will be able to help. I mean, how could someone help you if they don’t know your problems? If you can’t have reliance in your best friend, he or she isn’t your best friend.

            Being understanding is the least important trait. Being understanding is like the support of a building. Without the perceptiveness of an acquaintance, the friendship will come crumbling down. I always tell people bits and pieces of my life hoping they would be able to understand my view of it, and then being able to assist the state of affairs. Here is a scenario: You tell a friend that your dog just passed away and you are in tears, and they tell you, “Don’t worry it’s just a dog.” How would you react if someone said, “It’s just a dog?” The other person obviously doesn’t understand how significant the dog is to you. Now if you magnify the situation to something on a bigger level and the person doesn’t understand, it wouldn’t allow the alliance to persist and would cause many problems.

            The ability to communicate, comprehend, and have confidence in will sum up to make friends that will be there for you when you need them. Hopefully, you will have friends that last for a long time, and these traits will only elongate that time. Be the friend that you want to have, and you will acquire that type of friend.