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There's no one quite like your best friends.  Sure, you have siblings and partners and other amazing people in your life, but your besties get you like no one else can. Best friends are essential in anyone’s life and I wouldn’t be who I am today without these people in my life.  Oprah Winfrey once said: “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down”.  Having real friends is priceless.

But have you ever considered what your friends taught you along the way, the important life lessons that provided the framework for your adulthood?  Sure there’s stuff we pick up on our own, lessons taught by our parents, lessons our breakups and make-ups teach us, but there are certain lessons that only our best friends can teach.

10 Life Lessons Only Your Besties Can Teach You

1          You are never alone.

Whenever you feel lonely, terrified or sad, your friends will always be there for you to comfort you, to give you a shoulder to cry on and a helping hand to put you back on your feet. They will be with you in your hardest moments, even if you told them not to come

2    They teach you that, when it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

3     They teach you your family is who you choose.

If Carrie Bradshaw was right about anything, it was family. “The most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them, and others you don't. But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to.  Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself.”

Maybe you love your given family more than anything. Maybe you don’t. Your family isn't just bound by blood.  Sure, your mom, dad, and siblings are your family, but it doesn't just end there. Your friends will show you that you have a support system that's bigger than the one you were born into. They held you as you said goodbye to your favourite auntie, took you to the spa after a bad breakup, and laughed with you, as you look back at all your teenage fashion choices. They’ve proven to you, time and time again, that they love you like a sister and will protect you as if you're one of her own… because you are!

4          They teach you that if a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

5          They tell you the truth.

Remember, being honest might not always get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones.  Too many of us prefer gentle lies to hard truths. But, make no mistake, in the end it’s better to be hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie. Best friends tell each other the truth… always.

6          They teach you that life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

7          They teach you that being yourself is always – and always should be – enough.

A best friend is someone who truly knows you, and loves you just the same. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you. The secret to happiness is the acceptance of yourself. Your best friends will never want you to be anyone but the person you’ve always been. They’ve watched you hit rock bottom, swim at the top and, through it all, they’ve loved you because you’re you.

In those moments, when you feel the need to be someone other than yourself, remember that there lies a steady stream of people who love you just the way you are – and have always loved you the way you’ve been, because what you are is awesome.

8          They teach you to believe in miracles.

9          They teach you that secrets are better shared.

Everyone keeps secrets, but most secrets are better when shared. Your best friends don't care that you hooked up with your ex last night.  It happens; they understand that. They don't want you to shoulder that burden alone. Best friends teach us how to trust someone with everything we've got. You openly tell them all of the things that matter most to you, all of the things that hurt you, and you learn to fully trust them because you know that they will always protect your secrets.      

10       They teach you shopping is cheaper than therapy.

Whether it’s on new clothes, a haircut or a complete makeover, your girls know, understand and respect the fact that a little pampering goes a long way.

Your BFF’s will always be intimately connected to you no matter what direction life may lead you, because they’re the ones who helped you learn ALL of life's hardest lessons.  They’re the people that you call when you’re in a jam, the people that help you bury the proverbial body; so, pay attention to the friends you love, and keep those bonds strong and thriving.

What are some of the life lessons you’ve learned over the years? How have they impacted you or the way you live? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

 

 

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