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What it Means to be a Friend
  What is a Friend
  Friends are the one thing no one could ever have enough of
  They are everywhere
  And can be made at anytime
  
  We all have friends
  We all are friends
  But what does it mean to be a friend?
  
  Maybe being a friend means to be there
  There for the worst
  There for the best
  There in the middle
  Someone that you can always count on to show up
  To comfort you
  And lift you up
  Even at your lowest
  
  Or maybe it means to know you
  To know how you feel
  What makes you happy
  Your fears
  Your dreams
  Someone that will always know who you are
  Not the facade you wear
  But the true you
  
  Or maybe it means someone who is similar
  Who shares your interests
  Your values
  Your hopes
  They understand your life
  Because most likely they are in the same situation
  
  Or maybe it means to be honest
  Who tells the truth
  Only the truth
  Even if it may be hard
  To make sure you’re informed
  To make you a better you
  
  Or maybe it means to be different
  An opposite
  To share different experiences with you
  And hear your own
  Who can broaden your interests
  And be a new world you can explore
  
  Or maybe it’s someone who’s funny
  Who always knows how to make you smile
  Always bringing a new joke when spending time together
  And something to make you happy
  
  Or maybe it’s someone who is trustworthy
  Who can hear your secrets
  And keep the words between the two of you
  and no one else
  Just you and them
  
  Or maybe it’s someone who is adventurous
  And every time you’re together there’s something new
  Something crazy
  And you are on adventure
  Just like that
  
  What does it mean to be a friend?
  
  A friend does not put you down
  And make you feel bad
  Spreading hurtful
  Hateful
  Negative words
  
  A friend should not make you afraid
  Afraid to talk to them
  To tell them things
  To confide
  
  A friend does not judge you
  And criticize you
  For things you can’t help
  Or things that make you happy
  
  A friend does not put you last
  And act like a ghost
  Never there
  Just out of reach
  
  A friend does not try to change you
  And make you something you’re not
  They should not try to mold you to fit their needs
  And make you work around them
  
  A friend doesn’t disregard you
  They don’t ignore to you
  They don’t make you orbit around them
  As if you’re a sun
  
  A friend doesn’t blame you
  Blame you for their wrongdoings
  Wrongs that you didn’t do
  For things that you couldn’t help
  
  A friend doesn’t forget you
  Or leave you behind
  Never looking back
  They don’t speed ahead without you
  
  What does it mean to be a friend?
  
  A friend can mean anything
  depending on who you are
  They come in all shapes and sizes
  
  They should want to know how you are
  How your day is
  How you’re feeling
  
  They should forgive you
  And always accept you for things you did
  Things you’ve done
  The wrongs you made
  
  They should care about you
  And want you to be alright
  To be okay
  
  They should want to be with you
  To have fun
  Or to talk
  
  They should be trustworthy
  And be the one you can talk to
  With total confidentiality
  
  To say simply
  A friend should make you happy
  This isn’t negotiable
  They must make you happy always
  With no exceptions
  If they don’t make you happy
  Then they are not a friend
  
  But friendship is two sided
  You must work to
  If you are not a friend
  You won’t have friends
  
  If you don’t listen
  Or care
  Then you should find someone who shares that
  Or step up and make it work
  
  Here is my warning to all friends
  Be a friend
  Don’t be someone to put down people
  Or change them
  
  So be accepting
  Be caring
  Be kind
  And be a friend

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Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr.Seuss