Like many other young adults, I spend a lot of my time online, especially on social media. I personally do not want to know how many text messages I send per month. I'm glad that, since I have an iPhone, my texts are passed to the recipient via the internet instead of my service provider, my texts aren't counted. Many of you probably agree.
I never listened to the age-old stereotype that everyone you talked to on the internet was some creepy old man. I mean, I have always been careful, and I'm sure I have come across quite a few in my day, but that's not what this is about. There are also people on the internet who are just like me, young adults trying to live their lives, but they're also trying to escape from it, too. So, I'll say it, the thing no one wants to admit, because it somehow sounds lame and unheard of...
My closest friends are my internet friends.
To my friends I found online:
Thank you for never caring about how we met.
Whether we met because we were both late-night lurking on Tumblr or I was retweeting you obsessively, or even those who just found me on Facebook because we all agreed to hate the same people and love the same drinks, you always been there for me. You never fail to tell me about how your real-life friends think we're sort of crazy, and we've definitely convinced a few of them that we have probably met thousands of times because of our obsessive Facebook posts on each others' walls.
I will always be there for you.
Whenever anything goes down in your life, know that you can text me or call me, and even though most of us are in different time zones, I will never not be there for you. If I'm in class, send me a quick text. If someone is being a child on your Facebook post, tag me and I'll agree with you every single time. Whether you need a friend or someone to send you 800 .gifs of puppies, I'm your girl.
Thank you for being so honest with me.
I always come to you when I am upset or excited about something, because not only are you so supportive of me and everything that I do, but because of the fact that internet friendships ALWAYS start strong and then grow even stronger. You have never been worried that I would stop loving you because you were honest and upfront with me, even when I didn't want to hear it.
Thank you for keeping my secrets and sharing yours with me.
The best thing about friends on the internet is that, even if you want to share something I said to you with your real life friends, it likely will never get back to me, and I will know that you did not mean it with ill intent. I know you have confided in me just as often as I have confided in you, and you knew all of my secrets first. You always remind me that being a good friend is much more than being there for you during your happiest moments, and I'm happy that you trust in me with everything else too.
You are so appreciated, and I love you.
We spend so much of our lives trying to make peace with who we are and find people who mesh with our personalities. These people aren't always available to us in a 15 mile radius, and I am so glad that you are one of those people for me, even if you're thousands of miles away. While some of my friends may wonder where I met you, or why I'm constantly checking my phone, I am glad to know that you are out there, that you get every part of me that no one else does, and that you are my friend. Can't wait to meet you.