The BFF Guide for Girls: Qualities of Lasting Friendships

For girls, the teen years are often fraught with tricky relationships. From good friends to boyfriends, girls make and break relationships with all the drama of daytime soap operas. During these tumultuous times, a teenage girl needs the support of a Best Friend Forever (BFF). To have one, a girl needs to understand the qualities of a close friendship.

A  BFF  is Honest

A teenage girl need not share every detail of her life, but she must be honest about her intentions. In the article "Qualities of Friendship" on her website, Susan Kramer notes, “Congruency between our words, feelings and actions, keeping our intentions for the highest good, breeds happiness in living.”

This means that a good friend is always herself despite the situation: she doesn't pretend to be someone else. A true friend is honest with herself and with her BFF; she tells her friend if a person, place or activity doesn't seem quite right.

A Good Friends  is Fun, Interesting and Attentive

A good friend is her own person, which makes her fun and interesting. In Friendship Qualities, a survey of individuals ranked personality as the most important component of a BFF. She might be a social butterfly, an astute observer or quirky in her own special way. True friends bring out the best personality traits in each other.

A BFF is an attentive listener, and seems to have a sixth sense in detecting her friend's moods. She knows when her BFF is happy, sad, excited, shocked or upset. She also senses when her behavior annoys her BFF and discusses ways to modify it.

A True Friend is Supportive, Trustworthy and Caring

A true friend helps her BFF reach goals. She never tries to change her friend or pull her into a situation that may be uncomfortable or risky.

A best friend can be trusted. She doesn't try to steal a boyfriend, a job or personal belongings. She never gossips about her BFF or tries to ruin her reputation. If she is concerned about her friend, she discusses what is bothering her. A good friend sticks up for her BFF when she's in trouble.

A BFF lets her friend know she cares. She offers sympathy with a hug. She provides cheer with a silly joke. Sara Paddison defines care as "the ingredient that keeps true friendships alive despite separation, distance, or time." A best friend stays in touch, knows what's happening with her BFF and is genuinely interested in her activities.

A Best Friend is Loyal and Accepting

A good friend is loyal. Susan Kramer defines loyalty as “doing what one has committed to amidst changing circumstances.” A loyal BFF supports her friend during colossal failures: a D in chemistry, a nasty break-up or a poor play that loses the big game.

A true friend accepts her BFF as she matures and changes. Susan Kramer refers to friendship as a "bond of steadfastness and acceptance that allows us to be who we are, fully, without fear that love will be withdrawn.” A BFF learns to accept new boyfriends, acquaintances and situations. She understands and copes with her friend's idiosyncrasies and imperfections.

A BFF  is All This and More

A best friend is also patient and understanding. She forgives her BFF for hurtful behavior. A best friend apologizes for her mistakes, even the big ones. A real friend lives by the Golden Rule: she treats her BFF the way she would like to be treated.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson notes, "The only way to have a friend is to be one." To be one, provide honesty, attention and support. Build trust with loyalty, compassion and acceptance. Create fun with imagination, spontaneity and humor. Chances are she'll reciprocate and the friendship will blossom.

Read more: The BFF Guide for Girls: Qualities of Lasting Friendships www.colombian-match.com/index.html?ref=carlos

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