There can generally be no friendships without their being relationships between two people. Contrary to what people think, the word friend is actually thrown around carelessly in today’s world. Compared to friends, we have more acquaintances, which by dictionary definition is defined as a relationship less intimate than a friendship. And someone we merely happen to know. A friend is defined as a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations

- Who qualifies to be a friend in today’s world, let’s look at some characteristic that define who a friend is.

Characteristics of a friend

1. Someone you are in constant communication with regardless of the distance between the both of you.

2. Someone you enjoy being around

3. Someone who celebrates your joyful moments with you as well as sympathizes with you in your sorrowful times.

4. Someone who will tell you the truth regardless of whether we want to hear it or not.

5. Someone who comes to mind when you want to share important news/happenings

6. Someone who sticks by you regardless of your circumstances

7. Someone who will respect your beliefs and not try to negatively influence you

How to know that a friendship has expired

1. When maintaining communication and contact becomes a burden/struggle and interaction itself becomes awkward.

2. When you develop completely different habits from that of your friend so much so that their habits negatively affect you.

3. When you and your friend never seem to agree on anything.

- It may be Gods/life’s way of telling you the purpose of that individual in your life has already been fulfilled and you both need to move on from the relationship.

4. When you find yourself always being the one trying to make the relationship work.

How to be a good friend

- When it comes to friendship, the quality of the relationship is more important than the quantity.

- It is important to maintain as many connections and relationships as possible so as to have many places to turn to when in need but it is vital to clearly define friendships and mere acquaintances.

1. Make time for your friends. Take the time to call them, visit them, accompany your friends to important events regardless of whether you feel like it or not.

2. Friendship is a give and take. You cannot always be the one at the receiving end, you need to invest in your friendships and make the necessary sacrifices when required.

3. Be vulnerable sometimes.

- Expressing vulnerability to a friend makes him/her know your friendship is valuable if you are able to confide in them about intimate/important details about your life.

- This builds trust and a deeper connection between the individuals, especially if confidentiality is upheld.

4. Take interest in your friend’s life.

- Take interest in their lives. Make an effort to know who they are, what they aspire to achieve, what challenges they are facing, take an interest to know their family members, background etc.

Signs you’re in an unhealthy, expired friendship

1. You feel drained

2. You feel judged and criticized whenever you’re around that person

3. You feel like your friend isn’t happy when you are succeeding

4. When your friend is friends with people you do not agree with or see eye to eye with

5. When you friend coaxes you to engage in activities you aren’t otherwise comfortable with

6. When your friend is only present in your life when things are moving well for you and absent in your lowest moments