What Does It Mean To Be a Good Friend? (2024)

Howdy Wonder Friends! Given today’s Wonder of the Day, we’re glad to call you all friends. If you come back to Wonderopolis every day, that would make you a great friend!

How many friends do you have? There’s no need to count! Just think about it. You may have more friends than you know. You have friends at school. You have friends in your neighborhood. You probably would call your family members your friends. You may even have friends in religious settings and on sports teams, too!

How many of your friends would you call good friends? Many people use the word “good” to show someone is a close friend. But we’re talking about the word “good” that indicates someone is a quality friend — or the opposite of a bad friend.

Parents and teachers may have stressed to you the value of making good friends as you grow up. Surrounding yourself with good friends makes life more complete and fun. But what exactly makes a good friend?

The definition of a good friend varies from person to person, but there are certain traits and characteristics that most people would agree make someone a good friend. Let’s look at a few of those things that make a friend “good.”

When you ask people what makes a good friend, you may get answers that point to one quality: presence. A good friend is there for you when you need them. Whether it’s helping you through the grief of losing a loved one or being by your side when you’re sick, good friends are present in good times and bad.

You don’t have to be dealing with a struggle to need a good friend. Sometimes being present for a friend means listening when they need to talk, helping with homework, or even aiding in the search for a missing cell phone.

One key to being present for a friend is action. People can say many things, but as the old saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.” Someone may say they’ll be there for you when you need them, but when troubles arise, a good friend will be there to help.

Another important quality of a good friend is loyalty. We all have times when we’re not the most popular person. Perhaps we’ve done something wrong or we’re in a bad mood. Good friends are loyal and accept you for who you are during good and bad times.

Good friends are also honest — honest enough to tell you when you’re not being a good friend yourself. Some people only want to surround themselves with people who will tell them what they want to hear. Good friends will tell you what you need to hear, even if you don’t want to hear it.

Along with good friends who are present, loyal, and honest, most people want friends who are trustworthy. If you can’t count on a person, it’s hard to consider them a good friend. Mutual trust between friends is a building block of a solid friendship that could last a lifetime.

Another one of those solid building blocks of lasting friendships is communication. Do you have a friend who finishes your sentences when you speak? Perhaps the two of you think so similarly you seem to know what the other is thinking without needing to say anything. That kind of close bond doesn’t happen often and is a clear mark of a good friend.

There are many more qualities of good friends that we could discuss. Some qualities are more important to some than they are to others. Each person must set their own criteria for what it means to be a good friend. And that means you, too, must have those qualities in your interactions with friends.

Be who you are and find friends who let you be you are and don’t expect you to be someone else. Encourage one another and respect each other’s boundaries. Always seek the good in others and be respectful in your interactions. You never know when the good friend you make today might be a friend for life!