We all like to think we’re good friends, but are we really? Do our friends think we’re reliable, kind, and do we give good advice when they want it? Even if you’re the best friend a girl could ask for, there’s always room for improvement, and I’m always looking for ways to be a better friend. I’ve put together a list of ways I want to be a better friend, and here they are!
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I know I could be a better listener. It’s difficult, though, and takes patience and practice, but it’s worth it, since being a good listener is the hallmark of a true friend. If you want to be a better friend, then try to be a better listener! I know I’m working on this one…
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I know our lives are incredibly busy, but friends are important, so we need to try to make time for them. Even if it’s just a phone call or a text message once a week, let your friends know you’re thinking of them, more than just a quick note on their Facebook wall.
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When is your bestie’s birthday? What was the name of that guy last year who broke her heart? Does she love or hate the color pink? Is she allergic to strawberries, or blackberries? Being a good friend means remembering, because it shows you were listening, and that you care. If you don’t have a good memory, that’s okay. Remembering birthdays can be as simple as keeping a calendar.
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Good friends know when something important is happening, and they work to commemorate it, either with something simple as photos, or planning a shower or party. Who else would organize a surprise birthday party than a good friend?
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There’s a fine line between trying to help a friend and making her feel like you’re judging her. It’s natural to want to protect a friend you think it making a mistake, but don’t judge, or you’ll drive her away.
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If your best friend is calling to complain about how awful her job is, it’s important to know when to commiserate, and when to offer advice. Sometimes, she just wants to hear that you agree, her job sucks. This is a bad time to offer advice!
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Sometimes to be a good friend you have to say yes when you really want to say no, and sometimes, you have to say no when you know your friend wants you to say yes. Don’t mother her, but know when it’s time to stop enabling behavior, and when it’s totally fine to let her run wild… like at the shoe store!
These are all the things I know I need to work on to be a better friend… and it’s not easy, but it’s worth it because I have the most fantastic friends! Which of these is a strength for you, and which is a weakness? Please let me know!
Top Photo Credit: Method Fitness