How to be a Real Friend
To be or not to be, that is the question.
A lot of people pick "not to be", subconsciously, but say they will be an amazing friend.
If you have an inside look at this, I don't have a doubt in the world: you can relate.
Many kids, today, don't know exactly how to be a good friend, or a friend at all. So I've decided to clear the air.
1) Be Respectful
Even though they're your friends, that doesn't mean you can be mean to them. No excuses. The line is drawn at snapping. I have had plenty of "friends" that neglect my feelings. I am human.
To prevent rudeness, explore your own feelings. If you know that when you get hungry or have a headache, you get mean- let your friend know. Don't just wait until you can unleash the black of your soul- be proactive. Even if it's unintentional, don't be mean.
2) Hang out, but know your limits
You should know when you've been hanging out too long. There is such a thing as getting on ones nerves, and it's pretty easy to do. If you know your limit is a weekend. Stop ata weekend. If you push and believe that you can go another day, it can be extremely detrimental to your friendship. If it's one day, stop at one day. But despite these limits, you should still hang out. Human interaction is very healthy- just to an extent.
3) If you don't enjoy hanging out with them, don't
There have been so many times where the person I'm with is obviously a bad influence and I don't feel comfortable. I've tried changing them but they won't budge. If they make you uncomfortable, don't hang with them. Be with people that you like and can relate with.
4) Have their back
If you know they are going through a rough patch, make sure they're okay. BUT don't pester them. If they say they're okay, they most likely aren't, but that means they need space. Get them something you can enjoy together, like ice cream or a Netflix series, and talk about it- or don't. Let them control the conversation. It's about them right now. Once you show them you've got their back, they'll get yours.
These are like the ground rules. There are so many more things that go into a friendship than
these.
Until next time,
Emma