10 Little Ways To Be A Better Friend This Year

When it comes to being a good friend, it's hard to say what makes for the magic formula. Everyone values something different in a companion, and so other than being yourself and trying your best, it's not always easy to know what will make for a life-long best friendship. Yet, this is OK. We are not meant to keep every single friend we have for life. As we evolve, we have more and less in common with certain people. It's not about who we can keep around the longest, but who we can appreciate the most while we have them. People will come and go as they are scheduled to. All we must do is let them, and treat them well in the meantime.

While there's no one right way to go about it, when it comes to platonic relationships, simplicity tends to be key. It's usually about respect, validation, companionship, humor, and loyalty — nothing you didn't already know. People want to be appreciated, they want to be seen, and they want to feel as though someone has their back. Real friends are the family we choose, and if we don't treat them as such, they won't last as long as they otherwise would. While you probably know all of this, you may not be conscious of the small (but significant!) ways these things play out in day-to-day life. Here, a few little ways to be a good friend this year, because your BFF deserves it (and then some).

Acknowledge Their Emotions, Even If You Don't Agree With Them

It will make it much easier for them to accept their emotions, too.

Make Resolutions Together

Decide to be kinder, or do random acts of kindness, or stick to your budgets — and hold one another to it!

Don't Speak Ill Of Other People To Or With Them

If you do it with them, it embeds the anxiety that you'll do it without them, too.

Tell Them The Truth That Serves Them, Not The One That Makes You Feel Better

There's a difference between the kind of tough love that gives your ego a kick, and the kind of tough love that actually helps someone in their life. Be discerning, and most of all, be kind. The people closest to you aren't punching bags, they're your tribe.

Talk To Them About What They Love To Do The Most

Make your daily conversations about what you love, not what you hate.

Surprise Them Now And Again By Paying For Their Coffee Or Splurging On Something You Can Do Together, Like Going To A Show

All great love happens in the little gestures, and we need not forget that it applies to friendships, too.

Say Sorry Even If You Don't Mean It

Even if you weren't sorry you shared the truth, apologize if their feelings were hurt. You choose your battles in life, and this is usually not one that's worth it.

Call Them When You Really Need Them

Take them up on the opportunity to be there for you no matter what.

Work On Yourself

Your BFF deserves the best version of you, and at the end of the day, most relationship issues are resolved when someone decides to address their personal issues anyway. Do it for yourself, but do it for them, too.

Don't Just Tell Them You Love Them — Tell Them Why

And remind them of everything you appreciate and admire about them. It's always the right time to do so.

Images: Pixabay; Giphy