I consider myself pretty lucky in the friend department. My sister, mom and grandma, they were my first friends, and to this day they are still my favorite people in the world. My first real friend, who I met in kindergarten, lived across the street from me, and to this day we are still very much a part of each other’s lives despite the fact that she’s older than me and has a real job and responsibilities. In fifth grade, I met the girl who would become my middle school, high school, and home from college best friend. Freshman year of college, I met my bridesmaids, my people, girls that I really can’t believe I lived 18 years without. I feel bad for those who don’t have friends like mine, I really do.

Something that’s always eluded me has been a boy who makes me feel nearly the same amount of happiness that my girlfriends have provided, and I am not sad about it, not in the slightest actually. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend, not to say I haven’t had my fun, but the

One thing that’s always stuck out to me is the countless girls I’ve seen that get boyfriends and automatically deem them as their best friend. I’m sorry, what? Why? There is literally nothing wrong with having a boyfriend who is just that, a boyfriend. It’s unrealistic and unhealthy to put your all into one person and leave the rest of your friends in the dust, just like it’s unfair to not put any effort in a new relationship.

There are boys that I’ve met, that I’ve liked, that I thought were meet the parents material, but they fizzle out, and sometimes that hurts, like Kim K ugly cry, getting hit by a bus, hurts. The people that got me through it were my girl friends. A guy’s not gonna come over at 11 PM on Friday after dumping you to comfort you and plot revenge. You can’t raid your boyfriend’s closet for something to wear on Thursday night out, and by the way, there is nothing wrong with drinking too much, having fun, and hugging the toilet the next morning. Don’t shame partying and casual hookups just because you’ve dedicated your weekend-and all the ones to come- to watching crappy Netflix movies and baking cookies with your one and only.

There is a thing called balance that some of you desperately need to make a 2017 resolution because there is nothing more pathetic than being known as the girl who pushed all her friends away for the sake of a guy. Having a groom is cool and all, but what’s a bride without her bridesmaids?