Friends are important. God made us social creatures who need community, conversation, and contact in our lives. If you can forgive the cliche, friends are the family we get to choose. 

Good friends are treasures, they lift us up and inspire us. They're our support system when things get rough and it feels like the world is too much to face alone. They're the ones who challenge us, who break us out of our dull routines, encourage us to try new things, and expand our lives. They're the ones who will gently rib us when our egos are raging out of control, the people who will keep us grounded. Surrounding yourself with good friends is one of the keys to living a full life.

Friendship can come from all kinds of places. You should always have an open mind about who you can befriend and where they might come from. However, there are always certain qualities you should watch for when deciding how close you want to be with someone.

Are they? - 

Truthful people rock. Honesty is the foundation of any good relationship, you want people in your life who can speak honestly even when it isn't always easy. People who are upfront about how they feel, candid when they give advice, and don't try and hide or deflect their mistakes are the kind you want in your corner. 

Curiosity is one of the greatest traits a person can have. Being inquisitive about other people, wanting to know more about everything, and always being eager for a new experience or idea is a great way to go through life. Don't surround yourself with dull people who don't care about what is going on around them and never want to try anything new. Surround yourself with interesting people who will enrich your life while you enrich theirs.

Friends should be there when they say they will be. While someone bailing on a movie or not showing up for dinner might not seem like a big deal in isolation, this kind of behaviour can become more damaging overtime. If someone can't be bothered to even make it to a BBQ, what are the chances they'll be there when you really need them? Be careful with flakes.

Good friends have each others' backs. Whether they're there during a crisis, offering a sympathetic ear after a hard day, or discussing future aspirations, real friends are there to help each when they need it. There is nothing worse than having a "friend” who always seems to disappear as soon as things get real or never seem to have anything positive to say.

We all mess up. For as much as we're talking about positive qualities to look for in others, there are going to be times when you fail to live up to this standard yourself. Good friends know how to forgive each other. How to recognize a mistake for what it is and patch things up rather than letting division fester. 

If you want to know the best way to find the kind of friend we've described above, there isn't any trick to it. All you need to do is try your best to live up to these qualities in your own life. You should strive to be as honest, curious, dependable, supportive, and understanding as you'd want others to be for you. Live these qualities, and similar people will find you.