Over the past few weeks, it has become quite apparent to me that people truly appreciate the best friends that they have had during their lifetime in very deep, emotional ways. Yet, how could they not? We all know the wonderful, wonderful joys and adventures that our best friends bring to our lives. In fact, in articles, authors have written "open letters" to previous best friends that detail the rewarding elements of an old friendship while also showing the sadness and regret they feel after losing it. When I read these articles and see the countless amounts of shares, I become heartbroken for these lost friendships; however, I also feel a deep sense of happiness as I have been blessed to have a best friend who STAYED. Why God chose me to be lucky enough to have her as a best friend, I do not know, but I do know that I am eternally grateful for her and for our friendship. Although I feel that I could brag about our friendship endlessly, I have summed up my thankfulness into 16 awesome benefits of having a bestie who stayed. So, here is to you, bestie! "16 Reasons to Love the Bestie Who Stayed":

1. We NEVER have to make small talk.

I LOVE that my bestie and I are so close that we don't have to make small talk. We are either laughing and talking relentlessly, or we are completely comfortable with silence. Basically, conversations are never forced or necessary.

2. She knows me the BEST.

Actually, she knows me more than I know myself. She is always there to guide me in my decisions because she knows what is best for me.

3. She has become part of our family.

Yep. She even comes to hang with the fam when I am not there. They are tight and she is referred to as 'family'. My family loves to tease her, and she dishes it right back! As she reads this, she is probably laughing because she knows how true it is that she can have hangout times with my mom and also fight like a child with my younger brother. I love it.

4. Fights never get in the way.

Don't get me wrong, my bestie and I fight like no other because we tell it like it is; however, it never, ever gets in the way of our friendship. We get over it almost immediately!

5. We speak through faces and gestures.

This goes back to why we are completely comfortable with silence. Our faces say it all. One look and she knows exactly what I am thinking or feeling.

6. It's easy to buy her presents.

I ALWAYS know what to get her. Most of it will most likely have something to do with One Direction or music, but it is soooo easy.

7. We can be our ugliest together.

We. Don't. Care. We will sit around in our pajamas, watching movies, without showering in the last couple of days and be completely OK with that. Truly, no judgement.

8. We don't need anything "big" planned.

We are okay with just the simple things. Sometimes, we will just sit in my house next to each other as we mess around silently on our phones, but will be devastated when one of us has to go home. We miss each other before we even separate. Just having her company is a great joy and plan to me!

9. We plan each other into our own futures.

There is no negotiating on this. We. Cannot. Be. Separated. NOPE. When we are making plans or dreaming of the future, we accommodate for one another.

10. I know her other friends don't even matter.

Yes, I still get jealous. (SHE IS MY BESTIE, duh). But, I know that there isn't a person in the world that could break our friendship.

11. My house is your house.

She can just walk in and help herself to my fridge without even saying hello to me. She shows up on her lunch breaks. I love it.

12. We are proud of each other.

We encourage one another all of the time. The other day, she showed me a song that she wrote and I broke into tears because I was so proud of her! She' so talented!

13. No Boundaries.

Again, we are comfortable with each other. We hide nothing.

14. She's on my side.

It's really like having a sidekick or a cheerleader. She is always rooting for me!

15. We're real with each other.

I will tell her no and she will tell me when I am wrong. It's all good.

16. She is "my person"

My bestie means the world to me. I love that we have experienced so much life together and I am so excited for our future adventures. I can't imagine us becoming any closer than we are now, but I thought that same thing a few years ago. Thank you so much for everything. I love ya!