I once had a professor jokingly tell us that while 'friends come and go...money stays forever!' And sadly he is mostly correct, many friends DO come and go....but the really good ones stick around. If you have a lifelong friendship it's not there by accident or chance. Both of you cared enough to invest in your friendship and as a result it still stands today.

And so those of us fortunate enough to have these lifelong friendships often ask ourselves what in the world we would do without our 'friend version' of a significant other. But how often do we give these friends the shout outs they deserve? Not enough. That's the answer. And maybe we do tell them every single day how much we appreciate them and that still won't be enough. Why? Because they are that amazing. End of story.

And these lifelong, longterm best friends are so important for us to have for several reasons:

There's No Need To Backtrack And Explain Anything

They've been around long enough to know your reasoning behind things. They already know the backstory... even if it traces years... even decades... back in time, because they lived through it with you. They got it, they got you, no need to explain yourself.

They Knew You In Your Awkward Stage... And They Stayed.

Then again that was probably a two way street. If your friendship started under say- 16, it's a safe bet to say that your friend and you got to experience being awkward tweens together and memories of that can keep you entertained for hours. The point is, they knew you at your most dorky, and they still see you as your best. And they remind you of your best self all the time.

Which brings us to an extremely similar point:

They're There For You For The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly.

They are the first person to celebrate with you when good stuff happens just as they are the first person to comfort you when things go "not so well." If you've been friends for a crazy long time, chances are they've been there for your "ugliest" moments and they still love you anyways. They're not just the friends you go out and party with, they're the friends who are also chill to stay in and hang out. These friends are our built in cheerleaders, partners in crime, and psychologists. And they know just when to be what. You can't help but wonder how you scored such an amazing friend in your life.

They're Genuine

While we drift from friends for a variety of reasons, a big one tends to be you saw their true colors at some point down the line, and you didn't like it. Be weary of people who talk shit behind their supposed friends backs...that's cheap entertainment. Don't waste your time and don't stoop to that level. Know that if someone is nasty about others, they are nasty about you too- you won't be the one exception. Best friends are loyal and trustworthy. If you have an amazing lifelong best friend, you've probably never questioned them, or been given a reason too. My best friend is someone I know I can trust with anything. I have complete faith in her as a person and in our friendship.

You're Considerate Of One Another

A true friend is not going to leave you hanging. They treat you the same way they would want to be treated. Both you and your best friend or friends would do anything for each other in a heartbeat, and you both know it. Basically, you'd take a bullet for them... maybe not in the head... but in the leg or something...

There's Never A Dull Moment

Because even the "dull moments" when you're not really doing anything are chill. You guys can hang out for hours talking (or not talking) and both of you are completely content with whatever is happening. You're good to go out and do things but you're also good to stay in. You never run out of stuff to talk about and you probably have enough inside jokes to write a book. You know that every time you see your bestie you're in for a good time.

They Dish Out The Tough Love

They tell you what you need to hear even when you don't want to hear it. They're honest but tactful. They probably are the person that knows just how to say something to get through to you.

This ones's for Victoria, thanks for being "my person!"