Have you ever caught yourself wondering why friendships are so important in life? Although friendships may not last forever, it is very important to maintain strong relationships throughout your entire life. If you have a lot of friends, do you think ALL of those friendships will last? Most likely not. Strong friendships are super important because they form emotional bonds, which help people stay happy and content. 

Most people believe friendships can be broken down into three main categories; acquaintances, friends, and best friends. Acquaintances are people you know, but you don’t choose to share a close connection. Friends are people who you are close to, and choose to share certain parts of your life. Finally, best friends are people you trust and confide in and form a deep meaningful connection. 

When choosing a friend, these are the main qualities you should consider; loyalty, honesty, forgiveness, and acceptance. Loyalty is having someone who is consistently there for you. Honesty is having someone who will tell you the truth even if it hurts because they want you to be the best version of yourself. Forgiveness is important because no friendship will be perfect. Finally, acceptance is important as we are all flawed, and should not have to change ourselves unless we choose. All these qualities are important for maintaining long-lasting relationships.

***Fun Fact***

Ruth Magee and Beryl Richmond hold the World Record for the longest-lasting friendship ever at 78 years and 160 days. They began talking as children through a school pen pal system in 1939. They, however, have only met in person twice considering they lived in 2 different countries. Once in 1986, and a second time in 2009!