- Be considerate. Being considerate means that you are being thoughtful and kind. Make sure to always take your friend’s feelings into consideration when making a decision that affects him or her. Avoid doing things that will lead to hurt feelings or resentment.
- Be willing to make sacrifices for your friend. This means doing things for your friend that you might not otherwise want to do. Maybe you play a game that he or she wants to play even though you aren’t really interested in playing it.
- Be supportive. Support your friend in any way you can. If he plays a sport and you go to his game, then cheer him on and root for his team. If your friend has a cause that she believes very strongly in, then you could show support by joining her in furthering that cause. There are many ways in which you can support your friends.
- Be understanding. It helps to understand your friend’s moods and to know a little bit about what he or she has gone through in their life. The better you know your friend the easier it is to understand him or her.
- Remember the things that are important to your friend. A good friend should know such things as what their friend’s favorite color, song, singer, band, foods, activities (and so on) are.
- Be a good listener. Good listeners make good friends. Provide encouragement if your friend needs it.
- Avoid gossiping or talking behind your friend’s back. This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to LOSE a friend. Be careful what you say.
- Be positive. Nobody wants to hang out with someone that drags them down.
- Be willing to put your friend first at times. Let her go first when playing a game or allow him to make decisions about the things you are doing. Avoid being selfish or greedy.
- Be loyal. Being loyal means that your friend can trust you. It also means that you are dedicated and devoted to your friend. You stick by your friend “through thick and thin.”
- Keep your word. If you say you’ll do something, then do it. Be reliable and dependable.