There are few things more important or more precious than friendship. Friends are your chosen family. It's not enough just to find good friends — you've also got to BE a good friend.
What does it mean to be a good friend? Well, we asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share the unwritten and unspoken rules of friendship they think all people need to follow. Here are the helpful results:
1. "Celebrate your friend’s successes like they’re your own. Show your friends how proud you are of their achievements and support them!"
2. "Don't comment on your friend's body unless you genuinely think they are unwell (physically or mentally), or they've asked for your honest opinion."
3. "If your friend tells you a secret, don’t share that secret!"
4. "It takes two people to have a friendship. Communicate with your friend — don’t make them do all of it for you. Sometimes you should be the one to text first, give them a call, or ask to make plans."
5. "Don't drop your friends when you are in a relationship. Just because you met someone new doesn't mean you should ignore those who have stood by you and supported you throughout the years."
6. "Always ask before taking a picture of them and definitely ask before posting it!"
7. "Don't guilt or pressure your friends. You should want your friends to be comfortable and happy."
8. "Never leave a drunk friend alone in a bar."
9. "Be the friend who asks everyone to text when they've safely made it home."
10. "Do not be codependent. It’s okay to need space from your friends and for friends to need space from you."
11. "If your friend is having a hard time, please don’t respond with how much of a great time you’re having."
12. "Ask 'are you okay?' from time to time. Sometimes we get so caught up with our own business that we simply forget to check how our friends are doing."
13. "If you say you’re going to do something, follow through. I understand certain things happen, but at least send a text or call to explain. Don’t leave your friend hanging — especially if you decide to ditch for a partner, because that’s not cool."
14. "If someone has hurt your friend in any way (especially abuse), do not associate with them! It’s really painful to see someone you considered a 'friend' hanging out with someone who hurt you so badly."
15. Finally: "Set healthy boundaries. You should be able to say no to your friends. Speak to them from a place of honesty, and if they're not okay with boundaries, maybe they don't value the relationship the same way you do."
What's an unspoken rule of friendship you think all people should follow? Drop it in the comments below!
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.