A friend is someone you can trust. Someone you can have fun with and tell your secrets to. Friendship is a relationship that runs deep, BUT.. there is always a limit. A limit to how much fun you can have, to how personal the secrets can get, and so on. At a certain point that friend will not feel the need or necessity to be as involved in your life. Fear not though!
That is exactly where your best friend comes in. No secret too personal for them. No problem you face to hard for them to solve. However much time you spent together, there are never any regrets. And the stories you tell others are the stuff of legend.
A best friend comes in many forms. From that doggo you had as a child, to your imaginary friend you had even earlier. That awesome kid from seventh grade was your best friend for a while. But it could also be a parent or a sibling. Abstract things like humor and sarcasm are also suitable contenders. And even in a darker twist of fate, that bottle of rum that was always there for you. Eventually, if you're lucky, you land on that one person, your significant other, who ideally should be the best of the best.
A fitting tune towards this sentiment of the ultimate friendship is this one by Richie Campbell appropriately names "Best Friend". The clip itself portrays a very heart-warming story, which I won't spoil. It's just one of those things you have to watch.
You are my best friend
You and me, against the world
we don't have to pretend
These lyrics bring me to my own personal best friend. The one I can tell anything to, without being afraid of judgement. The one who has my back in any situation and vice versa. She may be an energy vampire sometimes, but thankfully I have that in abundance. We fight, we make up, we crack jokes at each other, repeat the process, and in short have the best of times together.
A best friend can be an anchor to sanity in bad times, a support pillar in situations and can elevate your own individual happiness to even greater heights. So once you find that person or entity, cherish that relationship, nurture it.
Almost ten years ago I did exactly that, thinking it would grow into the ultimate friendship. And while that did happen, there was quite a nice surprise along the way, because as I was looking for a friend, I accidentally found myself a soulmate.