I initially wanted to do my first piece on why I view marriage as a business, but I need more time to ponder the details. So another time I guess.

Today, I want to talk about friends. What is a friend? Many people around me seem to use the word quite loosely, and frankly, I don’t know if I’m just firm in my definition of a friend or everyone just has the term misconstrued.

My first year in high school, I was riding home with my dad telling him about all the new friends I’d made, when he stopped me before I could get it all out. He informed me that I shouldn’t call anyone my friend unless I’d known them at least a year. And for a while, I took that and ran with it.

But now, eleven odd years later, I still hold a bit of it to heart, but not all. To this day, I have about eight friends. These are people that I am comfortable with, and have proven to me that they have my back. Two of them are my very best friends, and the rest are some close ones I’ve accumulated over the years.

In my opinion, a friend is not just someone who you can just talk to on the phone, go out to eat here and there, club, and turn up with.

To me a friend:

• Is someone who has your best interest at heart. Trust me, it shows.
• Is someone you can call in your time of need. They won’t watch you drown if they can help it.
• Is someone who can and WILL check you when you’re wrong. Anyone who cosigns on bad decisions is not someone who you should keep in your circle.
• Is someone who will challenge you to do better because they want only the best for you.
• Will offer constructive criticism, whether you like it or not. Your real friends will tell you like it is.

I can go on all day about the qualities of a real friend, but this article will turn into an essay real quick. Bottom line, sometimes you must sit and reevaluate the people in your life. Who is really your friend?