COLUMN: Thank your friends
Friends: They're one of the fundamentals of preschool.
They’re those people you share your cookies with and ask to play house with. They tell off the people who upset you and hug you when you’re sad.
It’s like being a friend is something instilled in us since birth, because as humans, we look for those other people who understand what we are thinking and how we are feeling. And when we do find them, they're not something you let get away.
Some people make their first friends in elementary school, and some people are lucky to still call those their best friends.
But many don’t thank their friends nearly as much as they should.
Sure, you thank them for picking up the coffee tab or driving this time to the gym, but do you ever just call them up and tell them how awesome they are?
If not, then you should.
They might be caught off guard and feel a little “what did I do to deserve this?” But they did everything to deserve that.
They’re the ones hugging you and calling the jerk who hurt you every name in the book and making sure you eat enough chocolate until that’s all you can think about.
They drop everything and rescue you when your car breaks down. Or in my case, rescue you when you wear a grandpa sweater to a kegger where girls are half naked. (Thanks, Michele.)
Friends also snap you right back into reality when you say something ridiculous. But, they also say the most ridiculous things with you.
They sense when you’re not doing well and call you to tell you that everything will be fine.
I have one friend who I am pretty sure has a sixth sense that I am upset. I don’t even show it in sad Tumblr quotes or “I hate my life” tweets. Really. He just knows.
A lot of romantic relationships are based on performance — how the person measures up to your standards and your “list” … we’ve all got one.
But with pure friendship, you’re not constantly comparing yourself to someone else or making sure you’re good enough. Friends help make you a better person and take you for who you are, not who you can be.
If it’s been a while since you’ve thanked your friends for just being your friend, do it.
Trust me, they might think you’re a little nuts, but they will also love you that much more.
And, if you’re lucky, maybe they’ll even share their cookies with you and ask you to play house.
