How t0 Be a Great Best Friend ~~

Be your own best friend first. Learn how to respect yourself. Decide what boundaries are important to you and respect them. Understand what values are important to you, stick by them and seek others who honor those values.

Be loyal. Stick up for your friend when they need it. Respect those times when they need to stick up for themselves. Trust your friend and allow yourself to be vulnerable with them. Also come to understand their limits and say "no" when you need to while still being their friend. A friend of integrity is of great value. It is the fact that through ups, downs, and disagreements you still seek to work things out and be their friend that truly demonstrates your loyalty.

Listen. Nobody likes a best friend who just talks and talks, but never listens. If you're a chatterbox, it's okay if you're also a good listener. Whenever your best friend says something, listen carefully and say something. Don't just say "yeah" and move on. Don't interrupt or fidget continually while they're talking to you. If they ask for advice, listen carefully and give them the best advice you can. It'll earn you respect and of course, make them come to you more.

Be trustworthy. If they tell you a secret, keep it, never ever, ever, tell someone a secret your friend wanted you to keep. Don't even leak it out to someone you know you can trust. A secret is a secret. Don't gossip about your best friend, don't say anything that might turn into a rumor, and don't do things that you know would upset them. For example, if she/he had a crush on a cute guy/girl she/he would be embarrassed if you told someone. Make sure you know your best friend is okay with it. Things like that are sometimes hard to do, but if you want a solid friendship you have to be trustworthy.

Stick up for them. Sitting and watching your best friend get picked on or teased is definitely not going to earn you a brownie badge!! in best friends. If your best friend is getting seriously bullied and you're scared you'll get hurt if you get involved, then get help from a teacher or parents. If you can stick up for them without getting harmed yourself, make sure you do so. Sometimes you can feel totally better after being picked on when a friend tells everyone else to shut up and clear off.

Spend time together. Hang out on the weekends or plan activities together every now and then, do some homework together, and chat during break at school. You don't have to live in each others' pockets, but make sure you spend some quality time together with your best friend to make the friendship grow and become stronger.

Be yourself. Being yourself around someone is part of what makes you guys best friends. Be best friends with someone who you know you can be yourself around, because it isn't worth it trying to be someone you're not so you can be closer to someone. Don't hold things in either, so if you feel uncomfortable or have hard feelings against your best friend, talk about it with them. Make things comfortable between you two, and you'll both go through thick and thin together.

Care for your best friend. If they're away from home, send them cards or care packages to show that you care. If they're sick, call them and ask how they are doing. Best friends care for each other. Show them you appreciate their presence in your life. Write them notes to show that you care and are thankful for them, and ask about their lives. Share your own stories, but make sure you have time for them.

Avoid Expectations. If you assume what best friends' roles are, you will get disappointed and frustrated. Best friends are one of the most valuable friends you have, but they cannot help or support you in every aspect of your life. Do not expect them to always be there, or expect them to say the thing you want to hear. If there are expectations your Best friends need to reach, that will only leave you in a disappointing defeat. Be nice, do not email them saying they are a liar or you won't feel so good.

Share laughs. There is nothing like laughing and smiling to bring people together. Besides, when they're really friends, you guys can laugh at the dumbest and funniest stuff.

Be yourself. You are who you are, and your best friend will accept that. Being "fake" could lead you to losing your best friend.

Trust each other. You may find it hard in life and think that it is impossible to keep your best friend happy. To be a good best friend really doesn't take much. All you have to do really is make sure you can both trust each other with everything and you don't keep secrets. You will go through rough patches but everyone does a some stage in their lives. Just remember though, in order for them to tell you things you do have to tell them things too, even if it's nothing big. Being a best friend means you talk about everything together and you have so much in common. Some best friends do everything together, they have fun and they can be on the phone for hours just talking about their day they have had. You also need to make sure that they know you are always there for them, when ever they need you and that they feel comfortable talking to you about any problems they have. Bear in mind though that sometimes you will have to give the some space so that they can have time alone and think things through. Being a best friend you have to understand them and maybe sometimes or most of the time ask them for advice. You should never keep anything back from them either, even if you think that they will get hurt by it.

Spend some time together. If you feel like you are drifting apart a little then maybe think about doing something together one day, like going shopping or having a sleepover.. you know something fun. Most girls would know that being a best friend means telling gossip that you have heard and you need to fill them in on it. Sometimes you might think it's hard but it will get easier, you just have to know what your doing.

Care for them. If your best friend is ever upset then ask them what's wrong. They might not tell you straight away but they will in the end, you just have to comfort them and let them know that you are there no matter what. If a boy has upset them then tell them not to worry or it will be ok because you are there for them and your not going any where. Also tell then that there are plenty more boys out there somewhere just waiting for them and that they will find one that loves them for who they are. Just trying to be a good best friend shows them how much you really care. Just remember to help them when they need it... lending a helping hand to your best friend really doesn't cost much. In the end of the day, they would soon do it all for you.

Maybe you weren't meant to be best friends. If neither of you make an effort to get together, or if you get into fights with them for no reason, then maybe you weren't meant to be best friends. It's natural to stop having chemistry with a certain person, and if you grow apart, just be happy for the good times, and know how lucky you were to have that great person have a part in your life.

Never leave them. I've done this many times before and I regret it alot. Never say "Yeah, I'll walk home with you!" or "I'll meet up with you tomorrow" and then you don't do it. That makes your friend think do I really trust her? Never do this.

originated by:Anonymous, Dave Crosby, Babyface, Sondra C