When things go wrong in life, you either go to your mother for help and comfort or to your gang of friends. Your mom will, mostly likely anyway, accept you all the time. And if you have great friends, they will too. However, are YOU a good friend to them?

Be there.

Don’t be type who calls on everybody when you have a problem and then disappear or become suddenly ‘busy’ and ‘unavailable’ when your friends need you. Whatever the problem – big or small – be there when your friends call.

LISTEN.

You know it when people are not listening to you. You sense it and it’s frustrating, isn’t it? As such, don’t do the same to your friends. Really listen and understand what they are going through.

Mutual respect is important.

Friendship, just like any relationship, is about acceptance so don’t go about trying to constantly ‘improve’ or change your friends. Respect the difference from you and if ever you come across someone whose values and beliefs really don’t reconcile with your, then end the friendship. This is far better than faking one.

Be his/her advocate.

Look out for your friends. This can be as simple as ensuring you drive when he/she has had a few drinks to something more serious such as being his/her health advocate when your friend is feeling ill and doctors can’t seem to find out what’s wrong. In short, be the one fighting for your friend!

Don’t count the ways…

Of course, don’t be a push over but do restrain yourself from counting and tallying up favors all the time. For instance, not calling your friend because he/she doesn’t always call you is just downright childish. If faced with this dilemma just ask yourself this: do you want to talk to your friend or not? If so, pick up the phone and call. If not, let it be.