Laverne had Shirley, Oprah’s got Gayle, Chandler and Joey were bracelet buddies, and Ron always had Harry’s back. Tales of best friends in real life, literature, and on the big screen seem to capture our hearts and make us want to strive for #friendshipgoals with our own besties.
The new school year feels like a natural time to be on the lookout for new friends, either for you or your kids. If you’ve already found your Amy Poehler, Buzz Lightyear, or Spock, be sure to treasure that friendship fiercely. But, if you’re still on the hunt for Golden Girls-level of loyalty, we have some tips to seek out the best of the best.
- Care. If you want to make a friend, you must be a friend. “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” -Dale Carnegie
- Don’t judge. Look outside the lines for someone who especially needs you. You never know who could turn out to be your best friend. “You’d be surprised how much you can have in common with someone completely different than you.” -unknown
- Get out there and be courageous. Challenge yourself to greet new faces and strike up conversations. “Every new friend is a new adventure. The start of more memories.” -Patrick Lindsay
- Be generous and kind. Watch for ways to help others and connect with them through compassion. “If you want to make friends, go out of your way to do things for other people—things that require time, energy, unselfishness, and thoughtfulness.” -Lawerence G. Lovasik
- Don’t change who you are. Not everyone will like you—and that’s okay! “You are not created for everyone to like you. Just be yourself and the right ones will.” -unknown
- Be there. Repeat after me, the famous lyric about FRIENDS from the TV show with the same name: “I’ll be there for you.” Once you find your friends, you have to show up. Prove to them that you care—time and time again.
There are many more ways to find friendships—and trust us, it’s worth the time and energy. True friends share laughs, tears, heartache, inside jokes, hundreds of memories, and so much more. Everyone deserves a friend—at least one person who will be there through it all—the good times and the tough times. If you’re out there looking, don’t stop until you find it because as Winnie the Pooh said, “A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.”
