Being a friend is one of the most wonderful gifts someone can give. Most everyone has some friends in their life because it is almost impossible to live without them. Nobody wants to feel lonely and people need friends for several reasons. There are friends which you have to make fun with but a real friend is something who is always there for you and will help you in good and bad situations.

People have also other ideas about what a friend is. You can also be a friend if you have all the capacities which someone expect from you. Being is looking in the mirror and see what you expect from someone else to be your friend and you know which capacities you need to be a real friend for someone else.

You need to be honest because friendship doesn't exist or survive if you don't tell the truth and often lie. It can be difficult in certain circumstances but you can't be a friend if you hide the truth. Friends expect honesty and it is possible you hurt your friend with telling the truth. Friendship is a valuable bound between people and hiding important information can result in losing friends. If you want to be a friend you need to tell the truth because if he/she discovers you know some important facts which can be important for him/her and you don't tell it because you don't want to interfere you might lose a valuable friend.

Being a good friend means certainly that you are a good listener. Everyone has up-and downs in their life. It is important you are always there for your friend and shows you care for your him/her. If you listen to your friend you can give some useful advice and even if you don't have a good solution for his/her problems you will always help your friend through your listening skills. It is sometimes enough if you've listened to his/her problems and your friend will feel already emotionally better.

It is also important you show respect for the opinion of your friend. You don't need necessarily share the same opinion but it can be important trying to understand your friend's point of view. It is even possible after discussing you change your mind or you find a compromise between two different opinions.

You also need to organize activities to make fun with each other. Friends have certainly some similar interests and you can have a wonderful time together. Maybe you like to go to theatre, the movie or you want to exercise together. It is even possible you like go shopping together and have together a drink or you may like to dinner together. You will certainly laugh and enjoy your time when you are together. Being a friend means you will incorporate "the fun factor" in your activities.

Trustworthiness is certainly important. You can only be a confidential friend if you keep certain information between you and your friend secret and rely on your friend's word. Some information may never be shared with someone else because your friend told you something which he/she has never discussed with someone else. Sometimes you need also patience to help your friend through a difficult process.

Being a good friend means also you need to have the capacity of forgiving your friend. It may happen some problems arise between you and your friend or he/she told you something what he/she doesn't mean. It is necessary to forgive your friend because a small conflict is no reason to end a valuable friendship.

Friendship is important in everyone's life and necessary to be happy. You always need to care for your friends and to be there for them if he/she needs you. Being a good friend means that you are not selfish and that you are concerned about all the problems which arise if your friends life. You might even consider your friends as your family because you can't live without them.

Learn more about this author, Erik Van Tongerloo.
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