The Secrets of Maintaining a Friendship

In short, it is about not having too much an expectation from your friends.

You often wonder why you're constantly getting pissed at your other halfs, but hardly at your friends.
That is because, you expect so much more from the other halfs than your friends.

Your bf didn't reply to your text until 30 mins later, you get irritated
Your friends replied 40 mins later, and you tell yourself, at least she had the courtesy to reply.

Your bf was 30 mins late, you scream and yell.
Your friends were 30 mins late, you nagged abit, and after that all's good.

Your bf got you shitty presents for xmas, you get pissed.
Your friends gave you her primary school Snoopy Glasses for xmas, and you laughed it off

Your bf gave you a 2 mth belated bday presents, you get downright pissed off.
Your friends gave you a 4 mth belated presents, and you go Aww..

Frienships often soured because of expectations.
For eg, friends don't get your your bday present, you KPKB, then get pissed at each other.
If you keep expecting a friend to meet your standard, or expectation, or even adhere to your mindset, it definitely won't work out.

To me, friendship isn't about the materials, not the presents definitely. It's about enjoying each other's company (even through a webcam) and engaging in one hell of a bitchy conversation. It's about being there for one another, whether or not the person had been there for you.
It's about being comfortable as ever, even though you guys have not met for 6 months!
It's not about seeing eye to eye all the time.
It's about accepting the fact that she's always ditching you when she's attached, only come running back to you when she's single. (i'm just citing an example)
It's about accepting their flaws, and not making an issue out of it.
And it's definitely not about making a person change just for you. (how selfish a friend eh!)

A friendship is much akin to a relationship except for the expectations part.
And here's the interesting thing,
Friendship unlike a relationship can work only one way, because you have low expectations. You don't care if they remember your likes and dislikes, as long as you have them at the end of the day. And as for a relationship, i suppose it always take two to tango.

POALs, here's a toast to 8 years of friendship
And to Nim, Nut, Dolly, a toast to 13 years of friendship!