13 SIGNS OF A GOOD FRIEND

“Et Tu, Brute?” is a Latin phrase that literally means “Also you, Brutus?”

These three words are the brutal manifestation of a bitter betrayal. Spoken by the Roman dictator Julius Caesar at the moment of his assassination, they are directed towards Caesar’s friend, Marcus Junius Brutus, who ~ as we all know ~ turned out to be a traitor. These words reveal the sheer pain that one experiences when hurt by someone they consider to be one of their good friends. 

On the other hand, Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross from the hit sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S are some of the famous names that people immediately jump to while thinking about lifelong friends. These characters have become the epitome of true friendship.

I believe that friendships, as seen in ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S,’ are crucial in one’s life as they keep one going even in the worst of situations and make good times worth sharing and celebrating. As a matter of fact, being in a good friendship can actually help you live longer, as shown in a 2010 review of research.

Remember: It is at times when we get all alone, anxious, and stressed that we value our good friends more. These special people are like that comforting cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows that we need on colder nights or that consoling nook that we want to sit near all by ourselves when we are upset. 

But who really is a ‘good’ friend?

What even makes a friend good?

Well, in this blog, we will find out. We will be looking at 13 signs of a good friend (with some pop culture flavor) to help you identify the Phoebes and the Rosses of your life.

Let’s start, shall we?

1. They always encourage you to achieve your goal.

Good friends are always motivating. They will inspire you to put your best foot forward and achieve your goals. They are the ones who will not let you settle for any less than what you deserve and will help you in every way possible so you can reach the zeniths of your success.

This is similar to how Veronica helped Betty solve all the mysterious cases of murders in Riverdale. Your good friends will continuously remind you of your goals and be the happiest when you achieve them.

2. They are truly happy for your success.

Harsh as it sounds, only a handful of people are truly happy when you succeed. Sometimes, people are indifferent when you attain something that you dreamt about or downright jealous.

However, amongst the pricking thorns, you find a beautiful rose ~ that is who your good friend is for you.

Amongst many Draco Malfoys who will smirk and leave when you fly for the first time, there will be Hermiones and Rons who will be there to pat your back when you swish and flick correctly.

These people (your good friends) will always sparkle with a genuine smile when they see you succeed in life. Jealousy is miles away from them.

3. They will always support you.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said, “friendship is a sheltering tree.” And I cannot agree more!

Do you remember the time when not even a single soul was there to support you, but that one friend of yours stood by your side like a rock?

A good friend will always be with you, even against all the odds. They know you inside out and will always support you even if you have the wildest dreams. 

4. They accept you for who you are (even with your flaws).

Nothing is perfect ~ the moon has spots, a piano has flats, every mountain has valleys, and every painting has a grey area. Good friends, however, are ready to accept you as a person, despite all your flaws.

Even after knowing all your follies, they can still take a bullet for you. These precious ones see your real personality and not only your shortcomings.

Just like Max Black and Caroline Channing from the show Two Broke Girls, they will know that these flaws make you unique and make you who you are.

5. They stick around during good times and bad.

“Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love,” said Jane Austen in Northanger Abbey, and we all can relate to it.

A good friend will immediately come to help when we are suffering. They will be there for you in those rough patches. At the same time, they will stick around during your highs in life.

Life is a roller coaster ride, and good friends are the ones who sit by your side and scream at the top of their voices… just like you, for life’s sake!

Be it lamentation or celebration, you will always find a real friend by your side. 

6. They will hold space for you during struggles.

A good friend will be there for you emotionally, physically, and mentally.

If you have such a friend, no one will even dare to look at you with the wrong intentions.

Messing up with you would mean messing up with your friend. They will be there to fight all your battles. They will act as a shield for you.        

7. Like it or not, they always tell you the truth.

King Solomon wrote, “faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

A real friend is not the one who hypes you up even when you are wrong. A good friend is someone who will always tell you the truth and show you the right path, whether you want to hear it or not. They would never want you to live in a lie, even if it makes you happy. They will make sure to show you the daylight. They will point out your mistake, but then will also willingly forgive you.

This is what saves good friends from backbiting too. They express all their thoughts before you straightforwardly.

8. They check in on you.

Distance has the intangible power to break relationships.

Everything looks rosy when you see each other’s faces daily and talk every day. However, the reality is seen when you do not have the opportunity to hang out every day.

When friendships stand these tests of time is when a real good friend emerges.

Such a friend will check in on you to ensure you are doing great in life, no matter how far they are from you.

9. It takes two to tango.

This is a very famous proverb that we all would have heard.

In terms of friendship, it implies that a friendship thrives best when equal efforts are put in from both ends.

A good friend will acknowledge your endeavors and put in the same labor to maintain a balanced friendship, one which does not seem a burden but helps spend life ‘tangoing.’

10. They make you feel happier.

Remember Marlin and Dory’s friendship?

That is the kind of connection you will share with your best buddy.

Seeing the warm smiling face of your friend will be just like looking at a ray of bright sun on a cloudy day. A good friend will make you happy with their (sometimes lame) jokes.

On days when you are upset, even a glance at their face would be enough to cheer you up.

11. They forgive you.

Even Lee forgave Elle when she broke their sacred childhood rule in the movie Kissing Booth. Such are beloved friends ~ no mistake of yours is bigger than the bond they share with you. 

No doubt, there are times in life when you have tiffs with your friends. But a loyal friend is the one who looks past them.

12. You have a zillion inside jokes.

A strong friendship is known for having infinite inside jokes.

Having spent a lot of time together, friends experience many incidents. Hence, a true friend will understand you merely by your gestures and smirks, and you would not even need to articulate your feelings.

This is a sign that you have created an unbreakable bond with your friend.

This is what Khaled Hosseini in The Kite Runner implies when he says, “Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don’t have to say anything.”

13. They make you feel comfortable in your own skin.

You might stand before a mirror judging your double chin or flabby tummy, but then your friend is there to encourage you to peep in on the inside beauty of yours too. They cannot stand any harsh comments directed at you. You will always feel comfortable before them. (yes, even with your hairy legs and bushy brows.) They will show you the beautiful side of yourself that even you would have overlooked.

Well, there you have it!

13 signs of a genuinely good friend that you are lucky to have. Of course, no one is perfect (not in real life and certainly not in the real one), but these were just some of the signs you should look out for in a friend.