There are few things in this life better than having a truly good friend at your side.
But how can you tell when it’s the real thing? Maybe Reddit can help.
Here are some sure-fire signs to look out for.
1. Text first
They text you first when they don’t want anything.
– SilasDeane76
2. Protection
My friend once told me ” I Won’t let anyone hurt you man, even yourself” while helping me get off drugs.
That always rang out as a true friend thing to say to someone.
– Generalkrunk
3. No judgement
When they don’t judge you for things you can’t control. In high school, I had a sleepover, we all slept in the same bed, like normal.
I’d recently started some new medication. Turns out, a side effect was bedwetting.
They never told anyone. They never judged me. They helped me change the sheets. I’m still friends with those girls.
– SheketBevakaSTFU
4. Nothing and everything
When you can talk about nothing and talk about deep things.
Lots of friends only have one or the other.
– kraftykitten
5. Confidence
When you don’t have to talk 24/7 to know that you’re there for each other no matter what.
And when you do see/talk to each other again, it’s like no time has passed at all – you just have more stories to tell.
– ridiculoys
6. Hang time
“wanna hang out” then you don’t hang out and neither of you mind and then you hang out next week
– JAdamsidk123
7. The reverse
They’ll make fun of you to your face and defend you behind your back.
– Duluthian378181
8. The night life
When its 3am, you KNOW its 3am, NEITHER OF YOU ARE HIGH, and yet you’ve both been chortling at something that was said at 10:30…
– RedditGremlin13
9. Always welcome
When they can walk into your house unannounced and be welcomed in like a blood brother who’s come back after being away for the weekend
– jorph
10. Pick me up
You’ve both picked each other up or dropped each other at the airport at some ungodly hour and still enjoyed the drive.
– findingthescore
11. Silence is golden
Not needing to talk all the time or hang out regularly to justify having a solid friendship.
– themarajade1
12. It’s all convenient
They don’t mind being “inconvenienced” by you (in other words they don’t mind helping you/ being there for you)
– Jazz_Xyz
13. Feeling seen
When you can recognize someone’s mood without them telling you that they are upset.
– Oreo-and-Fly
14. Just to vent
I think the best thing I’ve heard from one of the few friends I’ve had is when I was having a real sh*t day and they asked if I wanted advice, just to vent, or needed a distraction.
The intention that day had been to help paint some walls in her house. She was perfectly fine with me hanging out and chatting, curled up in a blanket on the couch, while she painted her own walls and then we ordered takeout.
The sh*t was bad, but the day wound up pretty good.
– ElectronicFerret
15. Hmm…
One of my friends understands pretty much exactly what me going “hmm” at different lengths and pitches means.
– Trans-Trash-0310
If you’ve got yourself a friend that fits any of those descriptions, hang on to ’em.
What else would you add to this list?
Tell us in the comments.