Having friends is a wonderful thing.
Having close friends is even better!
So the question must be…
Can You Love A Friend Like Family?
It’s possible to love a friend like family, but whether or not someone can be loved like family entirely depends on the person.
People mature at different rates and come from various backgrounds.
Everyone has their own set of values that they live by – which means that while some may treat people like family others may simply see that person as a best friend.
However, remember that friends are not related by blood and that everyone has their own definition of exactly what ‘family’ means to them.
Everyone knows that friends can be great people to rely on, but they’re someone you turn to when you need help.
If you love your friend like family, it may be worth it to take a step back and re-evaluate the nature of your relationship.
But if you simply have a great friend who is always there for you, then enjoy this wonderful friendship!
How to love your friends like family
For those who have a great friend in their life that they would do anything for, there are sure to be many ways that you can love this person like family.
However, before you decide to love a friend just like family, remember that friends aren’t typically related by blood – meaning they may have different definitions of what exactly family means.
In some cases, the family may be very close and share a strong emotional bond, while in other cases it may be more of a distant connection.
But let’s cover how to love a friend like family.
1. Make sure you actually love this person
Before you decide to make someone your family it’s important to remember that friends aren’t family and may come from different backgrounds and thus have different ideas of what ‘family’ means.
This is especially true for those who choose to have a friend as a family member.
If you’ve got a great friend and they’re always there for you, consider this first: do you actually love them?
You may have heard of different levels of friendship – from acquaintance to friend to best friend, so if your relationship is closer to being ‘best friends’ then it may be worth it to take things further and love them like family.
2. Treat this person as you would your actual family members
If you truly care for someone, then consider treating that person the exact same way that you would treat a friend or family member – which is to say with respect, trustworthiness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, and kindness.
3. Keep in touch
Don’t forget that friends are not related by blood and may come from different backgrounds.
So if your friend is someone you share a close relationship with, make it a point to keep in touch!
This doesn’t mean calling every day or writing letters all the time, but you should definitely keep open communication channels so that you can be there for each other when necessary.
Why you should love your friends like family
Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms.
Some people are more open to different types of affection or ways that they can share the love with others – which is great!
For those looking to take their friendships up a notch, you may want to consider loving your friend like family.
Why? Because this allows for the care, trustworthiness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, and kindness found in family to be shared between you two.
You should also keep in touch so that you can always rely on each other when necessary.
These relationships may not replace those with blood relatives but they make great additions to your life!
The point is to do what makes you happy and that also makes your friend happy.
If you’re looking for love in that way, then it is most certainly there if you want it!
The benefits of loving your friends like family
There are many benefits to loving your friend like family.
For one, friends who are loved like family put forth the same level of care, trustworthiness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, and kindness as actual family members would.
This means that you can rely on them for anything at any time and they’ll be there for you in a heartbeat should you ever need them.
But the best benefit is that this allows for a greater level of intimacy.
Loving your friends like family lets you express feelings and emotions to one another without worrying about negative judgment or preconceived notions – because friends aren’t typically related by blood, they may view ‘family’ differently than you do and allow you to be more open and honest with them.
The cons of loving your friends like family
However, with all the benefits of loving your friend like family comes some drawbacks.
For one, if you don’t truly love this person it’s likely to blow up in your face down the line.
This is especially true for those who have romantic feelings for their friends or vice versa.
You need to try and consider whether your friendship is strong enough to be romantic or not before taking things any further.
You also have the risk of being in a relationship that you may not want – just because it’s romantic, doesn’t mean that you have to have sex or get married!
The bottom line is this: if you truly love someone, then love them like family.
If they’re your best friend, then love them like family.
As long as there is respect, trustworthiness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, and kindness between you two it’s always worth a shot to see where the relationship goes!
Final Thoughts
It’s definitely possible to love a friend like family. In fact, it just might be the best thing you can do for your friendship.
As long as you both love one another and provide each other with the same level of care, trustworthiness, loyalty, generosity, honesty, and kindness found in family it’s likely to turn out well.
But keep in mind that this type of relationship is only meant for those who are already very close.