Friends. Besties. Unbiological siblings. Friendship is everything.

Friends are there because they choose to be in our lives, our chosen families; those we decide to share life's greatest and most tragic moments with. Friendship paves our path, supports our choices and lifts us up when we need it.

Finding good friends isn't easy. The type of friends who stay around no matter what, are there to cheer you on, wipe a tear and support you through the biggest life changes. If you are lucky to find a true friend, the beauty of life gets better and better.

What does friendship mean to me?

Friendship has evolved as I've grown older. As a teenager, it was about finding people who listened, understood you and still wanted to hang out even if you weren't cool and weren't doing 'cool things'. Friendship was about fangirling over favourite boybands and celebrities, sharing the stresses of exams and having sleepovers, playing games and eating as much chocolate until our stomachs hurt.

When I became an adult, I thought friendship was the same, but it grew harder, harder to maintain. It's easy to stay friends and have fun with someone every day when you know you have to see them at school. In the adult world, life isn't that simple. Friends change; you meet new people and connect with others older and younger than you in the workplace, when travelling and at events. You learn and discover more about who you are through others' eyes and in your world.

Friendship breakups happen. You distance yourself from certain people as life gets too busy, priorities change, and you no longer want the same things. Things aren't easy, they're different, that's all.

Real friends make plans and stick around even when you move away from your small home town of all you've ever known. They continue to message you when you get into a relationship or backpack around the world. They make plans, dinners out, brunches, holidays and weekly calls. Friendship is easy for the ones who choose to stay in your life.

Friendship is joy, creating fun memories and crying with laughter; it's finding the people who match your energy and elevate you. Friendship means being your true self and not feeling embarrassed about it, it's feeling understood, seen and valued for who you are. It's about showing up, being present and making the other person feel empowered when they're with you.

What friendship truly means is having people by my side to do life with, to sing our hearts out to our favourite songs, dance the night away, cry at our favourite films, go on road trips, chat until the sun goes down and do the wild things that make life ever so magical.

I'm blessed for the long-term friends I have and for the new friends who come into my life, adding their shine and joy, making my daily life a pleasure.

Friendship is connection, family, love and wonder. It's knowing, you'll never be alone.