What I Learned from My Best Friend After Living Together

Your best friend is the best person you have. The one you’ll share your secrets with, the shoulder to cry on, a partner in doing weird things, and basically just takes a huge part of your life.

For most people, best friends are those that share the same interests. It may be the same hobbies, music taste, or fashion sense. You just bond over the same things. Kind of like a soulmate would.

But, there are also those like us – Opposites. My best friend and I are in that category. You’d think we argue over anything. Well, we do. It’s just that we still have each other’s backs at the end of the day.

Although with all our differences, I get to learn more about many things from another perspective after living together.

Living Together With My Best Friend

Having sleep-overs with your best friend can be fun, right? Late-night chismis and gushing about crushes while watching a movie. You wanted it to last longer just because you think one night is not enough for that bond. Let me tell you, living with a person is different from just a one or three – day bond.

Living with my best friend for 2 years, it’s a rollercoaster. We stayed in the same place while studying in Manila so we see each other first thing in the morning and the last before we sleep. We didn’t mind our differences before but living together we have to make space for each other’s wants. So, for a long while, we argue, we learn and we understand.

Here are some of the important things I learned from my best friend:

Taking Care of Oneself

It may be because I’m the only girl in my family, but I refused any skincare. However, my best friend likes to take care of her well–being. After seeing her headboard full of skin care products and doing an everyday routine, I couldn’t help but try one. I overlooked this thought but I’m surprised that I now take more time for skin care every day.

According to her, it’s important to ponder on how we look because it tells something about our personality and attitude. Impressions last.
Being Independent and Confident with Choices

She’s really independent, while I relied on her so much. So, when we went home due to the pandemic, I noticed how I relied on her so much. We didn’t get to talk much due to personal responsibilities. That’s when I start to look for her more.

From budgeting to choosing things, I wanted to ask her first. Noticing my reliance on her, she reminds me to trust myself more. “I don’t have all the answers. You have to figure things out on your own too. I’m here for you, but I’m not the one to solve all your problems.”
Acknowledging Differences

We are different. My best friend is mature, while I still feel like a child. She’s calm, while I’m excited. She’s sophisticated, while I am playful. Those are just some of our many differences. I tend to throw a fit when she denies my request. She would tell me that we are two different people and we should respect that. Just because we’re best friends doesn’t mean we should always be the same.

The thing about us is we make sure to create room for improvement. Our differences let us introduce each other to another perspective. It’s not only about us. In our life, we’ll also meet other people. If we’re not open to the perspectives of others, we are not growing. I’m glad I chose the best kind of friend to see the world through another’s eyes.