8 Reasons Your Long-Distance BFF Is Actually The Closest Friend You Have

Two months ago, I moved across the country. I spent the summer saying goodbye and making memories with my best friends. When I left, I learned just how much I love them.

Long distance friendships are hard, but I've never felt so attached to my besties. I sometimes feel as though I'll bust with love and affection. Here are eight changes that occur with long distance friendships:

1. Pride.

You feel overwhelmingly proud of your long distance friends. Everything they do is incredible. My friend texted me saying she peeled an orange in one strip and I was like, “Heck yeah you did, you're the best fruit peeler in the world!”

Because they're so far away, you're always extra impressed by their success. You can't be there to help them, so you're relieved they're doing well. Nothing makes me happier than talking to my friends who are excelling.

2. Protective.

As a best friend, it's your job to get angry and hate the people hurting your friend. As a long distance best friend, you feel fierce loyalty and protectiveness. You. Will. Cut. A. Bitch.

How dare they hurt your friend? You may revert back to immaturity and send out a subtweet or maybe even an assertive private message. As a long distance friend, you don't live in the same place as your friend's antagonist.

You don't have to see them or deal with them. Your friend may be afraid to speak up, but as a safe-distance away friend, you can be their voice. This mother-bear instinct is not limited to anything or anyone. Catty girlfriends, bad boyfriends, loud neighbors and toe-stubbing rocks are all subject to your wrath.

No one hurts your friend without you raging about it.

3. You're 100 percent on their side.

While you lived in the same city, you might have played devil's advocate or even disagreed with your friend's choices. You could bluntly say “that was a dumb move.”

But, as a long distance friend, these thoughts don't cross your mind.

All you care about is your friend who is suffering the consequences from whatever bad choice she made. It's never “I told you so.” It's always “how could you have known? I would have made that decision too.”

It's never “that's a bad idea;” it's always “follow your heart.”

4.  Your friends are your new drunk dial contact.

You're no longer tempted to call your ex or your crush. You no longer feel crushing embarrassment the morning after a night out when you read your sent messages.

Instead, you text your friends.

You tell them you love them and miss them. And they tell you the same thing. Good vibes only.

5.  You communicate through memes.

I never did this while I was living in the same city as my friends. But, as soon as I left, I started tagging them in memes I thought were funny.

They did the same. I have one busy friend who I don't get to talk to very often, but we tag each other in at least three memes a week.

It's nice, I know she's thinking of me and making me laugh even though she doesn't have time for a FaceTime date.

6. You brag about them.

You can't stop talking about them.

Your new friends know all of your hometown friends' achievements and successes. They've heard a million memories and stories and feel like they already know them (refer to number one when you're bursting with pride).

7. You worry about them.

You lose sleep hoping that your friend's crush texts her back.

If they're hurting, you wish for them at 11:11. You wish you could help them more.

When my friend living in Ghana told me she was mugged in an alley, my heart sank. I was sick with fear and angry I couldn't protect her. (Refer to number when I was ready to fly to Africa and hunt down the machete wielding mugger.)

8.  You understand life is busy and it's hard to keep in touch.

While living in the same city as my friends, their tardy replies sometimes annoyed or hurt me. While I'm across the country, I'm patient and understanding.

Blame it on the time difference.