by Melissa Aytche

Created on: April 28, 2009

What makes a good friend? What separates you from everyone else in the world of friendship? This is a hard question to answer only because being a friend takes time and work. Just like a relationship needs nurturing so too does friendship. So, what qualities make you a good friend and how can you be a better friend?

There are many qualities that make up a good friend and one of them is honesty. Can you really have a friendship based on lies? Well, a true friendship is one where the parties involved don't have to lie to be liked. They are friends in good and bad times so what good will lying do in a friendship? If you want to be a good friend then you must always remember honesty.

Don't just speak but listen. Many times we get caught up in our own world that we often don't hear what is going on with the other person. Friends know what is going on in each others lives and are supportive of both sides. Don't get wrapped up in your life and forget to pay attention to the things going on in the other persons life. Many times being a good listener is all someone needs to feel supported.

Be the first to acknowledge any event. When things happen in another persons life that is either good or bad being the person to show up and acknowledge the event is important. Many people have said a good friend is always there for you no matter what the situation. You have to be the same friend in return. This is a crucial quality that shows you really care about the person and what is going on in their life.

One of the most important qualities that many people look for is a person who just is themselves. You don't need to fake it to be friends. In fact most true friendships are based on the reality that you are who you are and vice versa. There is no point in being fake or not being you as this will start a trend of basing friendship on dishonesty. If you feel that you cannot be yourself around others then you must really search and find out what causes this and is this really a friendship that is right for you?

Good qualities of friendship are not so much based on what you have in common but what values you each have. Many friends are opposites but are true friends because of how they are with each other, how they respect each other, and how they each have so much to give. A good friendship like dating relationships are often similar and require the attention and time to show you care. When you care enough about a person and what is truly going on in their life and those same sentiments are returned you are living with the qualities it takes to be a good friend.

Don't get caught up trying to be perfect. Be yourself and you will find some of the best friends in the world. When you are a good friend to others you can find there are good friends in return that will respect and value you just as much as you do them.

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