Revolutionary concept: Be the friend people DON’T outgrow in 2026. Yes, set boundaries. Yes, protect your peace. But maybe also ask: Am I being the kind of friend I’d want to keep?

Be the friend who actually makes plans instead of saying “omG we need to hang soon!” for 8 months straight. Put a date on the calendar. Send the address. Stop larping as someone who values the friendship. “We should totally get coffee” is not a plan, but we know this.

1. Be the friend who actually makes plans instead of saying “omG we need to hang soon!” for 8 months straight. Put a date on the calendar. Send the address. Stop larping as someone who values the friendship. “We should totally get coffee” is not a plan, but we know this.

2. Be the friend who can book a reservation and takes initiative. “I don’t have OpenTable” is not a valid excuse in 2026. You have 47 apps that track your screen time and sell your data. Download one more. Incompetence isn’t cute. I don’t care if you’re “just a girl.” We’re all adults now (allegedly), make an effort.

3. Be the friend who celebrates without keeping score. Your friend got promoted? Got engaged? Bought a house? Be happy for them. I promise their success is not why you’re still figuring your shit out. Jealousy dressed as “devil’s advocate” concern is so transparent. We can all see you.

4. Be the friend who hypes people up in public AND in private. Comment on their posts. Tag them in things that made you think of them. Send voice memos that are just you screaming about how proud you are. We survived a global pandemic just to be stingy with emojis?? Unhinged behavior.

5. Be the friend who shares opportunities instead of hoarding them. You know about a job opening? A cool event? Someone they should meet? TELL THEM. Gatekeeping information because you’re scared they’ll “do better than you” is giving scarcity mindset. Grow up. Our friendship circles are an ecosystem.

6. Be the friend who doesn’t respond to someone’s big goals with “isn’t that a lot?” Yeah, it’s a lot. That’s why it’s a GOAL, babe. If your immediate reaction to someone’s ambition is to play devil’s advocate, it’s not you being “realistic,” you’re projecting your own fear. Get therapy about it. Then cheer them on or help them win.

7. Be the friend who shows up to the mundane stuff, not just the Instagram moments. Birthdays and weddings are easy. Real friendship is responding to their 2am spiral text. Helping them move. Sitting with them during the breakup before they’re “healed and thriving” enough to post about it.

8. Be the friend who can take a compliment without self-deprecating for 10 minutes. Them: “You look amazing!” You: “Ugh no I’m so bloated and this outfit is from 2019 and”…. STOP. Just say thank you. Your refusal to accept kindness makes everyone uncomfortable. We’re complimenting you, not starting a debate.

9. Be the friend who gives compliments without it physically hurting you. See someone killing it? SAY IT. “You look good” costs $0 and takes 2 seconds. We’re out here acting like kindness is a limited resource. You will not die from being nice. I checked.

10. Be the friend who can handle direct communication like an adult. If something’s wrong, USE YOUR WORDS. Vague posting and then saying “I’m fine” when asked is middle school behavior. Unfollowing and blocking without discussing your feelings is juvenile. We are too old for this. You have a fully developed prefrontal cortex. So do I. Let’s talk it out.

11. Be the friend who doesn’t make every conversation a competition. They share good news, you immediately one-up them. They’re going through something hard, you trauma-dump your worse version. Conversations aren’t the Olympics. You don’t get a medal for “most chaotic life.” Just listen.

Be the friend who stops disguising insults as jokes. “Haha you’re so extra” “You’re always doing the most” “Of course YOU would” with that little laugh? We know what you’re doing. If every joke lands as a small cut, you’re not funny…you’re mean. There’s a difference.

12. Be the friend who stops disguising insults as jokes. “Haha you’re so extra” “You’re always doing the most” “Of course YOU would” with that little laugh? We know what you’re doing. If every joke lands as a small cut, you’re not funny…you’re mean. There’s a difference.

13. Be the friend who doesn’t gatekeep your personal growth journey. You went to therapy? Started working out? Read a book that changed your perspective? SHARE IT. Stop acting like self-improvement is some secret club. Your friend struggling with the same thing you overcame doesn’t need your silence, they need the resources.

14. Be the friend who respects different communication styles without making it a moral failing. Some people text paragraphs. Some send voice memos. Some prefer calls. Some need weeks to respond. All valid. Stop diagnosing everyone’s attachment style because they didn’t text back in 4 minutes. Touch grass.

15. Be the friend who understands that showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all. Sent a “thinking of you” text 3 weeks late? Still counts. Brought store-bought cookies instead of homemade? They’re still delicious. Forgot the birthday but remembered the week after? Better late than never.

Science has been screaming at us for decades: relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness, health, and how long you live. Not money. Not career. Not how many people you’ve cut off. Actual human connection. And we’re really out here acting like being defensive and alone is the goal? We’re so busy trying to set boundaries and curating who to cut off that we forgot how to actually BE someone worth keeping. In 2026, be the friend who shows up. Consistently. Imperfectly. But actually.