Co-written with Erin M. Lisk

"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." - William Shakespeare

It's one thing to have a friend for a week, let alone nearly 12 years. It's hard to believe that two people can know each other and hang out since kindergarten. Here's some things you have to look forward to with friend that is decent enough to chill with you for so long.

1. They're basically your second family

After hanging out for so long, their family knows you and your family knows them. You've been around each other for a long enough time that you're recognized, you've dubbed each other's parents your Mom and Dad numero dos. Sometimes it even gets to the point where their less immediate family considers you family too.

2. You can tell when they're upset (and vice versa)

After years of different environments, situations, etc... , you can read each other pretty well. You may as well have developed a sixth sense that can detect when one of you isn't feeling like yourself. Luckily the extended period in which you've been around each other also means that you know how to deal with such changes in emotion.

3. They can tell you things that others are afraid to

After being through so much together, it's become easy to tell each other the harsh truth. Harsh truths aren't always harsh - but are usually things that you wouldn't generally hear from acquaintances. These words are usually welcomed by both of you as it helps to keep you on the right path, to lessen your ego, and to keep your head on straight. It's always best to hear from your closest friend if you're changing for the worst, if you've done something unlike yourself, etc... as they can help you to change things or to adjust.

4. Arguments rarely happen

Your friendship is at this point, so cemented, that the arguments that do happen are usually based around which Netflix shows to binge watch. They're incredibly short-lived, change nothing, and make you laugh hysterically in the end.

5. You go on cool escapades

You've both proven yourself to be responsible, and your parents know each other well enough that they're cool with letting you go on vacations alone (well, with each other and their family). For the most part you're on your own together, but it works out well for lone adventures out of your bedrooms, state, country, etc... Each journey is awesome and unique; some involving concerts, cruises, jet skiing, zip-lining, musicals or plays, sleep away camping, etc...

6. You try new things together

Whether its because you've run out of things to do, or you just want a change in surroundings -- your friend is there for it all. Both of you are crazy enough to jump onto the Pokemon Go craze, Stranger Things binge watching, sudden interest in over-eating exotic food (i.e. escargot), etc... there is no end to the madness. But hey! At least you do it together. Sports, camps, video games, books, comics, movies, joined an online writing / photography / videography community, etc... you've done and seen most of it all - and to be perfectly honest; it's the best darned thing.

There's no secret to keeping a healthy, amazing friendship that continues to strive. It comes down to trust, accepting change, and a bit of luck. Both parties are responsible for keeping the boat afloat, so to speak. If things become too repetitive, you mix it up a bit - go out of your comfort zones. Such things enable you to grow stronger. You allow nature to take its course but that doesn't mean you let everything occur through chance. To boil things down, you don't sweat the small the stuff. You have each other, you know each other, you're comfortable with each other, etc... But you grow together and apart, learn together and apart, make friends together and apart. At the end of the day, no matter what changes, you'll always have each other.