by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: April 14, 2009

We go through many relationships in a lifetime. Some of those relationships are with friends. These are the people that we rely on probably more than our family. We often trust a friend with things that we would never trust a family member with. This is what friends are for:

Laughing

Friends make us laugh. It doesn't matter what mood you are in, these people know what will make you laugh. They say that laughter lengthens you life. This must be true. When we are laughing, the stress rolls right off of us. In the long run, friends help you live many years longer.

A Shoulder to Cry On

A true friend will always give you a shoulder to cry on. You can count on them to listen to your worries and problems without judgment. They will get your through the roughest of times simply by listening to what you have to say. If you call them in the middle of the night because you didn't want to be alone, a friend will listen to the dead air with you so that you don't have to be alone.

Deep, Dark Secrets

These people are trusted with your deepest thoughts about life and about who you are. There is never a time that a friend will laugh at your dreams. They will never tell you that you are foolish but rather encourage you to reach the outer limits. If there is something bad about you, they will know it because you trusted them enough to share it. These are things that not even your closest family member knows about you.

Even When You Are Wrong

Friends back each other up. It doesn't matter if you are dead wrong or right on the mark. This person will stand on your side because they love you more than you can even imagine. They might tell you that you are wrong behind closed doors, but they will never say it in front of others.

Honesty

A friend will tell you that what you have on is ugly before you leave the house. This brutal honesty can only be shared with the best of friends. It certainly can save a lot of embarrassment down the road. Everyone else might be afraid to mention the fact that you have something on your front tooth, but a friend will give it to you straight.

Strength

More than anything else, friends provide us with strength. This strength gets us through the worst of times. When it seems as though the rest of the world is against you, a friend will come along and help you face it. These people will give you the courage to try new things. They will help you stand up for what you believe in even when they don't believe it themselves.

Friends are more like the family you wish you had. They are able to get you through moments that you thought you would never make it through. They help you deal with everything from your first date to your wedding vows. A true friend is for all of these things. No one could live without them.

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