Homegirl Behavior: 7 Signs You're Really A Great Friend

Dear Homegirl, 

Being a good friend is quite simple, yet people can make it very difficult. Remember when we were kids and we literally called everyone our best friend? I had like 10 best friends, and a plethora of play sisters and brothers. What we defined as being a “good friend” back then looked totally different. 

Here are some examples:

• Sharing your fruit snacks with your friend whose parents packed them apple slices and carrots.

• Letting them go first on the slide even though they went first the “last time.”

• Trading them your favorite sticker for one you didn’t even want.

If someone did any of these for me as a child, we were besties for life. Well, as an adult, showing up as a friend looks a lot different now.

Here are 7 signs you are a great friend...

You Show Up For Them

I know we all have our share of responsibilities like work, kids, relationships, and other life obligations. Not to mention any internal struggles we might be enduring. Adulting is hard, so if you have the mental, emotional, and physical capacity to show up for your friend, you are the real MVP. Showing up doesn’t have to mean you are out partying every weekend. It can look like making yourself available when they need some advice or an ear to vent to, sending them job opportunities, checking in with them after finding out they might be battling something, and countless other ways.

You’re The First Person They Call

If you are the first person they call to share a milestone, ask advice, or even tell the “tea” to, you are their safe space, bookie. This means that the moment something happens, you are one of the first people they think about.

You Are Consistent

One thing that is a pet peeve of mine in relationships is inconsistency. You say you like me yet your text messages are dry or you take forever to respond and are flaky when it comes to making and following through with plans. Now if consistency when I am dating gives me the ick, a friendship is no different. If you are a friend who actually makes the effort to follow through with plans, I am certain that means everything to the people in your life you consider a friend. Being dependable translates into them knowing you are a woman or man of your word.

You Sincerely Celebrate Them Without Comparison

How many of your friends are married or engaged and you aren't? How many of them have children? How many are working in the career of their dreams while you are still trying to figure out what you want to do in life or having problems finding a job? If you can celebrate them when you are still trying to figure your life out and not letting it trigger insecurities says a lot about you as a friend. 

You Always Hype Them Up

If they send you a picture of them after you get your hair done, you immediately respond with fire or heart eye emojis. If they post a picture on social media, you’re under their comment section. If they start a new business venture, you are encouraging them to persist and offer any support they might need.

You Are The First Person They Call To Invite Somewhere

If you are someone’s forever plus one, I think they just might love spending time with you. If your friend gets invited somewhere and the first person they think to invite is you, that says so much. They enjoy your company, and I don’t know anyone who would want to hang out with someone who they dislike being around.

They Tell You That You Are A Good Friend

And last, but certainly not least, you know you are crushing it in the good friend department when they verbally let you know that you are a great friend. I remember a friend told me it was "therapeutic" talking to me. I lowkey almost shed a tear, because here I was thinking I was annoying af. But seriously, if someone tells you that they appreciate you and your friendship, that is huge confirmation that you are everything they say you are.