How to identify a Good friend

vFriends are the glue that help hold together a
healthy and happy life. According to the Mayo Clinic ,
"...Good friends are good for your health. Friends
can help you celebrate good times and give support
during bad times. Friends prevent loneliness and
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give you a chance to offer needed companionship,
too."

Here are 10 signs your bestie is an amazing
person:

You can tell them anything
From keeping confidences to "having our backs,"
besties are, well, the best.
Social worker Kimberly Hershenson advises, "Be
trustworthy - when told something in confidence, do
not share the information with anyone, even your
partner. It is difficult to be vulnerable and share
problems with others. When a friend is able to open
up to you it is important to not break their trust."

They'll tell you what you need to hear
Dr. Gay Lynn Pendleton says, "Others may not tell
you what you need to hear, but a friend will be there
to tell you." A true friend isn't afraid to tell you -
lovingly - how it is.
They're there for you
For Antonella Pisani, " ...a best friend is someone
you want to support and push to be the best version
of themselves. You see things that they don't and
want nothing more than for them to be extremely
happy."

They talk to you
Marriage therapist Melissa Divaris Thompson
shares, " They answer the phone even if they don't
have time to talk just to see if all is okay and then
tell you they have to run."

Your relationship is important to them
Christy Nielsen states, "Make time and make the
friendship a priority. Whether it's a quick coffee
date with a local friend, a leisurely phone call with a
long-distance one, or an annual meet-up with your
besties, there is simply nothing that can take the
place of really being there for your friends. It's not
always easy with family commitments, jobs, and life
in general, but a friendship is a living thing that
needs to be cultivated or it will die ... In a similar
vein, be at the big stuff. Weddings, births, deaths
and divorces. They often aren't convenient or
inexpensive, but they are important. Just be there."

They love you for who you are
"My best of friends know exactly who I am. They
know my faults, they know the things I am not
proud of and I have found that they haven't judged
me in those moments. They remind me of who I am
and they help me be a better person in the world..."
shares therapist Melissa Divaris Thompson.

They'll take responsibility
Kimberly Hershon contributes, "Be accountable - if
you say or do something wrong, apologize. If your
friend is upset with you talk it out without getting
defensive. Acknowledge what your part was (even if
it was simply upsetting your friend) and discuss
what you could do differently in the future."
They respect your time and needs
To Kim Anderson, a friend is, "Someone who
respects your time. There are times when I cannot
socialize or talk, just too busy. A good friend
respects and understands that."
Parenting Coach Elaine Taylor-Klaus adds, "A
friend...understands what is going on for you in your
life, and doesn't add to your stress by adding her
"neediness" to your other pressing issues. That
does not mean that a friend doesn't ask for and
expect support...A true friend is aware of what's on
your plate, doesn't ask for more than you can
reasonably give, and does not take it personally
when you're not able to be as good a friend as
you'd like sometimes."
They'll always listen and speak when
necessary
Christy Nielsen counsels, "Listen more than you
talk. We go through a lot of stuff... and we're really
just figuring it out as we go along. I appreciate that
my true friends really listen to me when I'm working
through an issue. They're willing to give advice if I
really need it, but often we just need to say
something out loud - we already know the answer!"

They honor the relationship
Pastor Chris Smith says, "A friendship must be
cherished and respected ... The longer I live ... I
realize that true friends are precious and should not
be taken for granted ... true friendships are a
blessing and should be treated as such ... true
friendships represent love and that love should be
honored. I realize that true friendship is a beautiful
thing ..."
Melodie Cohn of Montreal wisely sums up friendshp
by saying, "Friendship is the ultimate life skills test.

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