There is nothing that makes me feel more warm and fuzzy inside than a good friend. That person who you sometimes look at, start laughing, and then they start laughing, and you have no idea why but you are having the time of your life. The person who you look forward to hearing from, that always makes you laugh, and that you would pretty much do anything for. You may be confusing this person with a boyfriend or girlfriend, but I promise you, this person is simply your best friend.

I have never been the type of person to have a lot of friends. I have a lot of acquaintances and I consider myself to be someone who “knows a lot of people.” But I don't get close to a lot of people. Mostly because I've been hurt and let down by friends in the past. But “as I get older” I have learned what is good about the friends I have, and the loyalty that they have to me and that I have to them.

For those of us who have spent years not having a close circle of friends, what entails a best friend you might ask? To me it is not a large checklist. They have to reliable. This is my number one criteria If I can't count on someone, then how can they expect to count on me?

Also, they need to laugh. A lot. They need to like to go on random adventures, such as to Sault Ste. Marie, and they have to be good listeners. They need to be nice, and compassionate, and understanding. They also have to be able to sit through episodes of 24, such as one of my good friends did last week, when he doesn't even watch the show. (It's my favourite show ever.)

Even though it sounds bad, a friend has to actually be honest. Even if they know you don't want to hear it, you really DO want to know that the guy you are dating is a jerk, or that you have gum stuck to the butt of your pants.

I would like to share a story about a good friend of mine. I recently went through some, how do you say, “life changes”, and this person (among others) were very supportive and understanding. Then we decided to do a Secret Santa this year, and I picked his name. Unbeknownst to me, he got mine as well. When we were exchanging gifts, and I was opening mine, another friend was saying that they had to go to a ton of stores to find just the right kind. So here I am, getting all excited to rip it open and inside it was an angel for my Christmas tree. And he KNEW I had no one else to share my tree with. There was tons of thought put into that gift, and that is why he is one of my best friends. (And sorry ladies, I am not letting you know who it is!) To know that someone put that much thought into something for me made me realize the friends I am not going to lose when they are graduated from Fanshawe.

Never sell yourself short on your friendships. Your relationships, crappy friends, money, jobs, etc will come and go. But a good friend is something you can always count on. (corny line, but if you have read this far, you are thinking of someone who is making you smile right now.) Hopefully, it's me. Just kidding. But I am always taking applications for more friends!